Navios Maritime Partners (NYSE:NMM) Trading Up 3.9% - What's Next?

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (NYSE:NMM - Get Free Report)'s stock price shot up 3.9% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $36.24 and last traded at $36.81. 25,324 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 85% from the average session volume of 172,821 shares. The stock had previously closed at $35.42.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Navios Maritime Partners from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, March 13th.

Navios Maritime Partners Trading Up 0.4 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.10 billion, a PE ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 1.31. The firm's fifty day moving average is $36.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.75.

Navios Maritime Partners (NYSE:NMM - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The shipping company reported $1.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.62 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $274.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $254.00 million. Navios Maritime Partners had a net margin of 27.53% and a return on equity of 11.64%. The business's revenue was down 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.32 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Navios Maritime Partners L.P. will post 12.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Navios Maritime Partners Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 9th. Navios Maritime Partners's dividend payout ratio is presently 1.82%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Navios Maritime Partners

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NMM. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in Navios Maritime Partners by 108.1% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,473 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $194,000 after buying an additional 2,324 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Navios Maritime Partners in the 4th quarter worth approximately $204,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Navios Maritime Partners in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $219,000. First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in Navios Maritime Partners by 23.7% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 5,325 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 1,020 shares during the period. Finally, Merrion Investment Management Co LLC grew its holdings in Navios Maritime Partners by 56.9% during the fourth quarter. Merrion Investment Management Co LLC now owns 10,040 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $435,000 after purchasing an additional 3,640 shares during the period. 62.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Navios Maritime Partners

Navios Maritime Partners L.P. owns and operates dry cargo vessels in Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia. The company offers seaborne transportation services for a range of liquid and dry cargo commodities, including crude oil, refined petroleum, chemicals, iron ore, coal, grain, fertilizer, and containers, as well as charters its vessels under short, medium, and longer-term charters.