BW LPG (NYSE:BWLP) Hits New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Key Points

• BW LPG shares reached a new 52-week high of $25.70, supported by increasingly positive analyst sentiment. Four analysts rate the stock Buy and one rates it Hold, resulting in a Moderate Buy consensus.
• The company reported quarterly revenue of $1.01 billion but missed earnings expectations, posting $0.79 in EPS versus the $1.17 consensus estimate. BW LPG maintains a 22.48% return on equity and a 12.64% net margin.
• BW LPG increased its quarterly dividend to $8.8914 per share from $6.20, implying a 137.9% yield based on the article’s figures. Several institutional investors, including Arrowstreet Capital and Bank of America, have also recently built or expanded positions.

Shares of BW LPG Limited (NYSE:BWLP - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $25.70 and last traded at $25.6450, with a volume of 119685 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.11.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on BWLP shares. Dnb Carnegie upgraded BW LPG from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Weiss Ratings raised BW LPG from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Pareto Securities raised BW LPG from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Clarkson Capital raised shares of BW LPG from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of BW LPG from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

BW LPG Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $3.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.77 and a beta of 0.99. The business has a 50 day moving average of $22.47 and a 200 day moving average of $20.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.18, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

BW LPG (NYSE:BWLP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Saturday, August 29th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.17 by ($0.38). BW LPG had a return on equity of 22.48% and a net margin of 12.64%.The business had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $318.01 million.

BW LPG Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 8th will be paid a dividend of $8.8914 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 8th. This is a positive change from BW LPG's previous quarterly dividend of $6.20. This represents a $35.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 137.9%. BW LPG's payout ratio is presently 129.25%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On BW LPG

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in shares of BW LPG during the first quarter valued at approximately $9,646,000. Fearnley Asset Management AS purchased a new stake in shares of BW LPG in the fourth quarter worth approximately $5,388,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its holdings in shares of BW LPG by 54.2% in the first quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 387,070 shares of the company's stock worth $6,799,000 after buying an additional 136,000 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE bought a new stake in shares of BW LPG during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $6,218,000. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in BW LPG by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 299,497 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,923,000 after acquiring an additional 38,850 shares during the period.

BW LPG Company Profile

BW LPG Limited NYSE: BWLP is a Singapore-based maritime company that owns and operates very large gas carriers (VLGCs) used to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), primarily propane and butane. The company provides seaborne transportation services to energy producers, commodity traders, and other customers involved in the global LPG supply chain.

BW LPG's activities include vessel ownership, ship management, commercial operation, and fleet optimization. Its ships transport LPG on international trade routes connecting major exporting regions, including the Middle East and the United States, with import markets in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world.

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