BMO Capital Markets Boosts Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU) Price Target to $31.00

Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU - Free Report) had its price target lifted by BMO Capital Markets from $30.00 to $31.00 in a research note published on Monday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has an outperform rating on the business services provider's stock.

A number of other research firms have also recently issued reports on BBU. TheStreet cut Brookfield Business Partners from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. National Bankshares boosted their price objective on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Desjardins increased their target price on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $26.50 to $28.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Brookfield Business Partners presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $30.33.

Brookfield Business Partners Price Performance

NYSE BBU traded up $0.04 during trading on Monday, reaching $18.93. The company's stock had a trading volume of 20,577 shares, compared to its average volume of 15,355. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.41 billion, a PE ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $20.66 and a 200 day moving average of $19.29. Brookfield Business Partners has a one year low of $12.22 and a one year high of $23.75.

Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The business services provider reported $6.57 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.90 by $5.67. Brookfield Business Partners had a net margin of 7.08% and a return on equity of 21.72%. The business had revenue of $13.41 billion during the quarter. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.49 EPS. Analysts expect that Brookfield Business Partners will post 3.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Business Partners Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.0625 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.32%. Brookfield Business Partners's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3.92%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brookfield Business Partners

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in Brookfield Business Partners by 1.5% in the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 8,779,849 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $133,455,000 after buying an additional 128,970 shares during the period. K2 Principal Fund L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Brookfield Business Partners during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $2,033,000. Triasima Portfolio Management inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Brookfield Business Partners in the 1st quarter worth about $1,405,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new stake in Brookfield Business Partners during the third quarter worth about $476,000. Finally, Gold Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Brookfield Business Partners during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $618,000. 85.04% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Brookfield Business Partners Company Profile

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializing in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, infrastructure services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments.