Woodside Energy Group Ltd $WDS Shares Sold by HighTower Advisors LLC

Key Points

• HighTower Advisors LLC has reduced its stake in Woodside Energy Group Ltd by 34.9%, now holding 49,467 shares worth approximately $717,000 after selling 26,493 shares in the first quarter.
• Woodside Energy Group announced a semi-annual dividend increase to $0.53 per share, with a record date on August 29, marking a rise from the previous dividend of $0.51.
• Analysts have mixed ratings for Woodside Energy Group, with one analyst issuing a strong-buy rating and another downgrading it to a sell, resulting in an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

HighTower Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Woodside Energy Group Ltd (NYSE:WDS - Free Report) by 34.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 49,467 shares of the company's stock after selling 26,493 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC's holdings in Woodside Energy Group were worth $717,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of WDS. Greenline Partners LLC purchased a new position in Woodside Energy Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Woodside Energy Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $94,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Woodside Energy Group by 679.8% in the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 6,683 shares of the company's stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 5,826 shares during the period. Sage Rhino Capital LLC purchased a new position in Woodside Energy Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $146,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new position in Woodside Energy Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $146,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.17% of the company's stock.

Woodside Energy Group Stock Down 1.8%

Shares of WDS traded down $0.32 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $16.82. 483,710 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 592,296. The firm has a market cap of $31.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.51 and a beta of 0.69. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $16.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $15.04. Woodside Energy Group Ltd has a 12-month low of $11.26 and a 12-month high of $18.42. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31.

Woodside Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is an increase from Woodside Energy Group's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.51. This represents a dividend yield of 616.0%. Woodside Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is 124.39%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on WDS. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Woodside Energy Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, August 22nd. CLSA upgraded shares of Woodside Energy Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Woodside Energy Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy".

Woodside Energy Group Company Profile

Woodside Energy Group Ltd engages in the exploration, evaluation, development, production, and marketing of hydrocarbons in the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and the Europe. The company produces liquefied natural gas, pipeline gas, crude oil and condensate, and natural gas liquids. It holds interests in the Pluto LNG, North West Shelf, Wheatstone and Julimar-Brunello, Bass Strait, Ngujima-Yin FPSO, Okha FPSO, Pyrenees FPSO, Macedon, Shenzi, Mad dog, Greater Angostura, as well as Scarborough, Sangomar, Trion, Calypso, Browse, Liard, Atlantis, Woodside Solar opportunity, and Sunrise and Troubadour.