Natural Resource Partners (NYSE:NRP) Shares Gap Up - Here's What Happened

Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $100.23, but opened at $103.64. Natural Resource Partners shares last traded at $100.86, with a volume of 17,664 shares traded.

Natural Resource Partners Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average price of $101.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $103.41. The company has a current ratio of 2.33, a quick ratio of 2.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The company has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.20 and a beta of 0.30.

Natural Resource Partners (NYSE:NRP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 28th. The energy company reported $3.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Natural Resource Partners had a return on equity of 39.69% and a net margin of 68.22%. The firm had revenue of $65.73 million for the quarter.

Natural Resource Partners Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th were issued a dividend of $1.21 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 11th. This is a boost from Natural Resource Partners's previous dividend of $0.35. Natural Resource Partners's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 26.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Natural Resource Partners

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NRP. Progeny 3 Inc. bought a new stake in Natural Resource Partners during the 4th quarter worth approximately $15,732,000. Solidarity Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Natural Resource Partners by 97.8% in the fourth quarter. Solidarity Wealth LLC now owns 92,186 shares of the energy company's stock worth $10,233,000 after acquiring an additional 45,571 shares in the last quarter. ING Groep NV increased its stake in Natural Resource Partners by 43.8% during the 4th quarter. ING Groep NV now owns 93,910 shares of the energy company's stock valued at $10,424,000 after purchasing an additional 28,600 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in shares of Natural Resource Partners by 48.9% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 57,085 shares of the energy company's stock worth $6,336,000 after acquiring an additional 18,754 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mountain Lake Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Natural Resource Partners in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,222,000. Institutional investors own 31.77% of the company's stock.

About Natural Resource Partners

Natural Resource Partners L.P., together with its subsidiaries, owns, manages, and leases a portfolio of mineral properties in the United States. It operates in two segments, Mineral Rights and Soda Ash. The company owns interests in coal, soda ash, trona, and other natural resources. Its coal reserves are primarily located in the Appalachia Basin, the Illinois Basin, and the Northern Powder River Basin in the United States; industrial minerals and aggregates properties located in the United States; and oil and gas properties located in Louisiana.