Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI) Sees Significant Decrease in Short Interest

Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI - Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,270,000 shares, a drop of 45.1% from the March 15th total of 9,600,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,580,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days. Approximately 0.9% of the company's stock are sold short.

Gold Fields Stock Performance

Shares of Gold Fields stock traded up $0.07 on Monday, hitting $24.06. 1,906,234 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,638,289. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 0.92. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.30. Gold Fields has a 52 week low of $12.98 and a 52 week high of $25.52.

Gold Fields Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.3752 per share. This is a positive change from Gold Fields's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.6%. Gold Fields's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.96%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gold Fields

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State Street Corp lifted its position in Gold Fields by 2.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,194,633 shares of the company's stock worth $18,338,000 after buying an additional 25,972 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Gold Fields by 70.0% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 37,129 shares of the company's stock worth $579,000 after purchasing an additional 15,289 shares in the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Gold Fields by 13.5% during the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 77,825 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,027,000 after buying an additional 9,261 shares during the period. Range Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Gold Fields in the 4th quarter valued at about $770,000. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Gold Fields by 10.5% in the fourth quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 21,153 shares of the company's stock worth $279,000 after buying an additional 2,014 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 24.81% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. HSBC reiterated a "hold" rating and set a $21.00 target price on shares of Gold Fields in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Gold Fields from $17.10 to $18.80 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Scotiabank boosted their price target on Gold Fields from $20.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Gold Fields from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Gold Fields currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $18.56.

Gold Fields Company Profile

Gold Fields Limited operates as a gold producer with reserves and resources in Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Canada, Australia, and Peru. It also explores for copper and silver deposits. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Sandton, South Africa.