Bank of Montreal Can Has $1.88 Million Holdings in Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU)

Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of Peabody Energy Co. (NYSE:BTU - Free Report) by 44.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 89,928 shares of the coal producer's stock after acquiring an additional 27,820 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned approximately 0.07% of Peabody Energy worth $1,883,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Peabody Energy by 144.2% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,951 shares of the coal producer's stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 2,333 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in shares of Peabody Energy by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 327,601 shares of the coal producer's stock worth $6,860,000 after buying an additional 7,586 shares during the period. Elevate Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Peabody Energy during the fourth quarter worth $1,889,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Peabody Energy by 15.7% in the fourth quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 43,766 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $916,000 after buying an additional 5,940 shares during the period. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its position in Peabody Energy by 52.1% during the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 57,800 shares of the coal producer's stock valued at $1,210,000 after acquiring an additional 19,800 shares during the last quarter. 87.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Peabody Energy Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE BTU traded up $0.08 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $12.39. 4,003,592 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,219,400. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.59 and a beta of 0.52. The business's fifty day moving average is $13.32 and its 200 day moving average is $19.30. 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 Co. has a fifty-two week low of $9.61 and a fifty-two week high of $29.94.

Peabody Energy (NYSE:BTU - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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%. Equities research analysts predict that Peabody Energy Co. will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Peabody Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 19th were issued a $0.075 dividend. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 19th. Peabody Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 11.11%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on BTU shares. Benchmark lowered their price objective on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. B. Riley decreased 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 dropped their price target on Peabody Energy from $30.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 6th.

Peabody Energy Profile

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.