Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) Sets New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Key Points

• Reached a new 52-week high: shares traded as high as $15.66 (last $15.50) on Friday with about 385,977 shares changing hands.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed: Stephens upgraded to "overweight" with a $17 target and Wall Street Zen moved to "buy," but MarketBeat's average rating remains "Hold" with an average target of $12.25.
• Quarterly results were mixed: Green Plains beat EPS estimates ($0.17 vs. $0.07) but revenue fell 26.6% year‑over‑year to $428.85M and the company still reports a negative net margin (-5.8%) and negative ROE (-8.7%).

Green Plains, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as $15.66 and last traded at $15.50, with a volume of 385977 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $15.51.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Green Plains from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. Stephens upgraded shares of Green Plains from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $10.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Roth Mkm cut shares of Green Plains from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $10.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Green Plains from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Green Plains from $7.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $12.25.

Green Plains Stock Up 1.4%

The company's 50 day simple moving average is $12.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a current ratio of 1.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.10 billion, a PE ratio of -8.32, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.46.

Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.07 by $0.10. Green Plains had a negative net margin of 5.80% and a negative return on equity of 8.70%. The firm had revenue of $428.85 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $536.56 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.86) EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Green Plains, Inc. will post -0.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Green Plains

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Green Plains by 192.2% in the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,547 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 2,991 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its stake in Green Plains by 19.0% in the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 10,122 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 1,619 shares in the last quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new position in shares of Green Plains in the 2nd quarter worth $61,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Green Plains during the 3rd quarter valued at $67,000. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Green Plains during the 2nd quarter worth $75,000.

About Green Plains

Green Plains Inc is a leading producer of fuel-grade ethanol and related co-products in the United States. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company operates an integrated network of biorefineries that convert corn and other grains into renewable fuels. Through its production facilities, Green Plains supplies ethanol to domestic fuel markets and export channels, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote cleaner-burning transportation options.

Beyond ethanol, Green Plains manufactures a range of co-products that add value throughout the agricultural supply chain.

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