Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE:PAGP) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (NYSE:PAGP - Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the nine brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has issued a hold recommendation, five have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $19.55.

A number of analysts have weighed in on PAGP shares. StockNews.com upgraded Plains GP from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Plains GP from $14.50 to $16.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, April 12th. Scotiabank began coverage on Plains GP in a report on Monday, April 8th. They set a "sector outperform" rating and a $23.00 price target for the company. Barclays raised their target price on Plains GP from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Plains GP from $16.50 to $17.50 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Plains GP

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PAGP. Spirit of America Management Corp NY lifted its position in Plains GP by 181.8% in the 3rd quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NY now owns 62,000 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $999,000 after acquiring an additional 40,000 shares in the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Plains GP in the 3rd quarter valued at about $575,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Plains GP by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 57,624 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $929,000 after acquiring an additional 5,185 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in Plains GP by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 103,779 shares of the pipeline company's stock valued at $1,673,000 after acquiring an additional 1,760 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Plains GP by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 126,694 shares of the pipeline company's stock worth $2,042,000 after buying an additional 3,337 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.30% of the company's stock.

Plains GP Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE:PAGP traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $18.76. 2,403,866 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,233,008. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.39 and a beta of 1.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Plains GP has a one year low of $12.59 and a one year high of $19.77. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $18.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.72.

Plains GP (NYSE:PAGP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The pipeline company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.06). Plains GP had a return on equity of 1.33% and a net margin of 0.41%. The business had revenue of $12.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.88 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that Plains GP will post 1.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Plains GP Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 1st will be given a $0.3175 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 30th. This represents a $1.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.77%. Plains GP's payout ratio is 124.51%.

About Plains GP

Plains GP Holdings, L.P., through its subsidiary, Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., owns and operates midstream infrastructure systems in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs). The company engages in the gathering and transporting crude oil and NGLs using pipelines, gathering systems, and trucks.