Barclays PLC Reduces Holdings in Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU)

Barclays PLC lowered its stake in shares of Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU - Free Report) by 11.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 220,324 shares of the coal producer's stock after selling 28,567 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned 0.18% of Peabody Energy worth $4,613,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BTU. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Peabody Energy by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 13,234 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $277,000 after buying an additional 693 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Peabody Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $247,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Peabody Energy by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 278,081 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $5,823,000 after purchasing an additional 4,552 shares in the last quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Peabody Energy by 808.0% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 3,986 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $83,000 after acquiring an additional 3,547 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Fund Management S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Peabody Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $2,220,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.44% of the company's stock.

Peabody Energy Stock Up 3.2 %

Shares of NYSE:BTU traded up $0.40 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $12.81. The stock had a trading volume of 1,060,807 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,253,413. Peabody Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $9.61 and a 1 year high of $29.94. The firm's 50 day moving average is $12.90 and its 200-day moving average is $18.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.68 and a current ratio of 2.15.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The coal producer reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.25). Peabody Energy had a return on equity of 10.33% and a net margin of 8.75%. Research analysts predict that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 19th were paid a dividend of $0.075 per share. This represents a $0.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 19th. Peabody Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 11.11%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BTU has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Benchmark cut their price target on shares of Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. B. Riley reduced their target price on Peabody Energy from $27.00 to $19.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th.

About Peabody Energy

Peabody Energy Corporation engages in coal mining business in the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, France, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Germany, and internationally. The company operates through Seaborne Thermal, Seaborne Metallurgical, Powder River Basin, Other U.S.