Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research downgraded Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) from "hold" to "strong sell", while other brokers have trimmed ratings and the consensus remains a "Hold".
• The stock opened at $14.52 and is trading below its 50‑day ($18.97) and 200‑day ($17.01) moving averages, with a one‑year range of $7.20–$23.41 and a low valuation (PE 3.09) but relatively high leverage (debt‑to‑equity 1.70).
• Korea Electric Power reported ($0.10) EPS on $13.61 billion in revenue last quarter, and recent institutional buys have been small, indicating limited large‑scale investor conviction.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP - Get Free Report) was downgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on KEP. Bank of America cut shares of Korea Electric Power from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen cut Korea Electric Power from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, March 22nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Korea Electric Power from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Monday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold".

Korea Electric Power Trading Up 1.9%

NYSE KEP opened at $14.52 on Tuesday. The firm's fifty day moving average is $18.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.01. Korea Electric Power has a one year low of $7.20 and a one year high of $23.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.46. The firm has a market cap of $18.64 billion, a PE ratio of 3.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 1.01.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, February 14th. The utilities provider reported ($0.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Korea Electric Power had a net margin of 8.80% and a return on equity of 18.76%. The company had revenue of $13.61 billion during the quarter.

Institutional Trading of Korea Electric Power

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Korea Electric Power in the third quarter worth about $29,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Korea Electric Power in the third quarter worth about $33,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Korea Electric Power by 47.0% in the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,264 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 724 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Korea Electric Power during the 3rd quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC bought a new stake in shares of Korea Electric Power in the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000.

About Korea Electric Power

Korea Electric Power (KEP) is a South Korea–based integrated electric utility engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The company's activities span power plant operation and maintenance, grid management, fuel procurement and power trading, as well as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for large-scale power projects. Its asset base includes a mix of thermal, nuclear, hydro and renewable generation capacity, and the company supports system planning and reliability functions for the national electricity network.

In addition to core utility operations, KEP provides a range of technical and consulting services tied to power infrastructure, including plant construction, refurbishment and decommissioning support.

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