Ruffer LLP Makes New $52.27 Million Investment in AngloGold Ashanti PLC $AU

Key Points

• Ruffer LLP has made a significant new investment of $52.27 million in AngloGold Ashanti PLC by purchasing 1,146,968 shares, representing about 2.3% of Ruffer’s total portfolio.
• AngloGold Ashanti recently increased its semi-annual dividend from $0.69 to $0.80 per share, reflecting a high dividend yield of 610.0%.
• Analyst ratings for AngloGold Ashanti are mixed, with four Buy ratings, one Hold rating, and two Sell ratings reported, alongside an average target price of $49.60.

Ruffer LLP purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,146,968 shares of the mining company's stock, valued at approximately $52,267,000. AngloGold Ashanti accounts for about 2.3% of Ruffer LLP's portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Ruffer LLP owned about 0.27% of AngloGold Ashanti at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. SVB Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Hara Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 36.09% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AU has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $58.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Scotiabank reiterated a "sector perform" rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Roth Capital reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Zacks Research lowered AngloGold Ashanti from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered AngloGold Ashanti from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $49.60.

AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance

NYSE:AU opened at $66.73 on Thursday. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a 12 month low of $22.45 and a 12 month high of $69.98. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $56.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $47.12. The company has a current ratio of 2.99, a quick ratio of 2.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a market cap of $28.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.75 and a beta of 0.54.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The mining company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.31 by ($0.06). AngloGold Ashanti had a return on equity of 22.54% and a net margin of 23.60%.The firm had revenue of $2.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.29 billion. On average, analysts expect that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

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

AngloGold Ashanti Profile

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.

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