Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) Stock Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Green Plains, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $5.95 and traded as high as $8.34. Green Plains shares last traded at $7.96, with a volume of 1,484,319 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Green Plains from $8.00 to $7.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Bank of America cut Green Plains from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $10.00 to $4.50 in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Green Plains has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $11.93.

Green Plains Stock Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $5.66 and a 200 day moving average of $5.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The company has a market capitalization of $539.55 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.88 and a beta of 1.22.

Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.88) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.51) by ($0.37). The business had revenue of $601.52 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $605.62 million. Green Plains had a negative net margin of 4.22% and a negative return on equity of 12.76%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up .7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.81) EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Green Plains, Inc. will post -0.5 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Green Plains

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its position in shares of Green Plains by 46.5% during the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 5,789 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,838 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Green Plains during the second quarter worth about $96,000. Adamsbrown Wealth Consultants LLC acquired a new position in shares of Green Plains during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $60,000. Inspire Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Green Plains by 52.7% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 70,629 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 24,388 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in Green Plains by 69.5% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 559,216 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $2,712,000 after acquiring an additional 229,353 shares in the last quarter.

Green Plains Company Profile

Green Plains Inc produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnership. The Ethanol Production segment produces ethanol, distillers grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil.