Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC Has $14.77 Million Stake in Spire Inc. $SR

Key Points

• Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC reduced its stake in Spire Inc. by 3.7%, selling 7,310 shares and now owning approximately 0.32% of the company’s stock valued at $14.76 million.
• Several institutional investors increased their positions in Spire, with Wellington Management Group LLP growing its stake by 29.0% and now owning over 1 million shares valued at approximately $69.38 million.
• Spire announced a quarterly dividend of $0.785, with a yield of 4.1%, set to be paid on October 2nd to stockholders of record on September 11th.

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR - Free Report) by 3.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 188,689 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 7,310 shares during the quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.32% of Spire worth $14,765,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State of Wyoming bought a new position in Spire during the 4th quarter worth $52,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd increased its position in Spire by 2,648.0% during the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 687 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 662 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Spire by 66.0% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 727 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Spire by 103.8% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 803 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 409 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC increased its position in Spire by 21.7% during the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 914 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.36% of the company's stock.

Spire Price Performance

Shares of SR stock traded down $0.1450 on Thursday, reaching $76.0050. The company had a trading volume of 37,855 shares, compared to its average volume of 455,089. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.49 billion, a PE ratio of 16.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. Spire Inc. has a one year low of $61.56 and a one year high of $79.81. The business's 50-day moving average is $74.74 and its 200 day moving average is $75.09.

Spire (NYSE:SR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.09) by $0.10. Spire had a net margin of 11.56% and a return on equity of 8.66%. The company had revenue of $421.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $417.27 million. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.14) EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Spire has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.400-4.60 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Spire Inc. will post 4.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Spire Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, September 11th will be paid a $0.785 dividend. This represents a $3.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 11th. Spire's payout ratio is currently 67.82%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SR has been the topic of several recent research reports. Stifel Nicolaus set a $81.00 price objective on Spire and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Bank of America reiterated an "underperform" rating and set a $76.00 price objective (down previously from $81.00) on shares of Spire in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Spire from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen upgraded Spire from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an "underperform" rating on shares of Spire in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $79.20.

Spire Profile

Spire Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, retail distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and other end-users of natural gas in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream. It is also involved in the marketing of natural gas and related services; and transportation and storage of natural gas.