VAALCO Energy (NYSE:EGY) Reaches New 1-Year High at $7.42

Shares of VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $7.42 and last traded at $7.41, with a volume of 156496 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $7.21.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded VAALCO Energy from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 23rd.

VAALCO Energy Stock Up 1.9 %

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $4.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.58. The company has a market capitalization of $759.03 million, a PE ratio of 13.13 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16.

VAALCO Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th were given a $0.063 dividend. This is a boost from VAALCO Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.43%. VAALCO Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 44.64%.

Institutional Trading of VAALCO Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EGY. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy by 13.2% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,192,299 shares of the energy company's stock worth $5,234,000 after acquiring an additional 138,810 shares in the last quarter. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 237,100 shares of the energy company's stock worth $1,041,000 after acquiring an additional 3,100 shares in the last quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc. now owns 155,183 shares of the energy company's stock worth $583,000 after acquiring an additional 3,178 shares in the last quarter. Yorktown Management & Research Co Inc boosted its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy by 56.9% during the 3rd quarter. Yorktown Management & Research Co Inc now owns 80,000 shares of the energy company's stock worth $351,000 after acquiring an additional 29,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy by 491.7% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 59,169 shares of the energy company's stock worth $245,000 after acquiring an additional 49,169 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 50.32% of the company's stock.

About VAALCO Energy

VAALCO Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Canada. The company holds 58.8% interest in the Etame production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block covering an area of approximately 46,200 gross acres located offshore in the Republic of Gabon in West Africa.