AngloGold Ashanti PLC $AU Shares Sold by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

Key Points

• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP reduced its stake in AngloGold Ashanti PLC by 31.3% during the first quarter, now owning 3,527,749 shares valued at approximately $130.9 million.
• AngloGold Ashanti's quarterly earnings report revealed earnings per share of $1.25, which missed the consensus estimate of $1.31, while the company reported revenues of $2.45 billion.
• The company recently declared a $0.80 dividend to be paid on September 5th, increasing from the previous dividend of $0.69, with an impressive dividend yield of 610.0%.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP cut its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU - Free Report) by 31.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,527,749 shares of the mining company's stock after selling 1,605,995 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned about 0.84% of AngloGold Ashanti worth $130,932,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the first quarter valued at about $30,000. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the first quarter valued at about $30,000. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in AngloGold Ashanti in the first quarter worth about $77,000. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 769.5% in the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,939 shares of the mining company's stock valued at $109,000 after buying an additional 2,601 shares during the last quarter. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

AngloGold Ashanti Stock Performance

AU stock traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $55.46. The company had a trading volume of 2,502,863 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,834,655. The company has a quick ratio of 2.22, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $50.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $42.78. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a fifty-two week low of $22.45 and a fifty-two week high of $59.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.28 billion, a PE ratio of 14.75 and a beta of 0.46.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 1st. The mining company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.31 by ($0.06). AngloGold Ashanti had a net margin of 23.60% and a return on equity of 22.54%. The company had revenue of $2.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.29 billion. Analysts anticipate that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current year.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 22nd will be paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 22nd. This is an increase from AngloGold Ashanti's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.69. This represents a yield of 610.0%. AngloGold Ashanti's payout ratio is presently 85.11%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AU has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank reissued a "sector perform" rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Monday, August 11th. Wall Street Zen lowered AngloGold Ashanti from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. Roth Capital reissued a "buy" rating on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $49.60.

About AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.