Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) Sets New 52-Week Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Central Puerto shares hit a new 52-week low, trading as low as $11.09 and last changing hands near $11.42, below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
• Analysts remain moderately positive overall, with two Buy ratings and one Hold rating, but the average price target of $22.75 contrasts with recent downward rating and target adjustments.
• The company recently paid a $1.0758-per-share special dividend. Institutional and hedge-fund ownership remains limited at 2.97%, despite several funds adding or initiating positions.

Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday. The company traded as low as $11.09 and last traded at $11.4230, with a volume of 99,230 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $12.10.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CEPU has been the subject of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Central Puerto in a research note on Wednesday, August 26th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Central Puerto from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Central Puerto from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, September 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $22.75.

Central Puerto Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.83 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a fifty day moving average of $13.15 and a 200 day moving average of $14.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Central Puerto Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a special dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 28th were paid a dividend of $1.0758 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 28th. Central Puerto's payout ratio is 30.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Central Puerto

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Central Puerto by 285.7% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 132,818 shares of the company's stock worth $2,235,000 after acquiring an additional 98,380 shares in the last quarter. Walleye Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Central Puerto during the 1st quarter worth $1,349,000. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda bought a new position in shares of Central Puerto during the 1st quarter valued at $6,084,000. Absolute Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. bought a new position in shares of Central Puerto during the 1st quarter valued at $4,814,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. bought a new position in shares of Central Puerto during the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. 2.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Central Puerto Company Profile

Central Puerto SA is an Argentine electricity generation company that develops, owns and operates power-generation facilities. Its portfolio includes thermal, hydroelectric and renewable energy assets, enabling the company to supply electricity from a range of generation technologies.

The company sells power primarily through Argentina's wholesale electricity market and serves the country's electric system. Its operations are concentrated in Argentina, where it supplies electricity to the national grid and participates in the development and expansion of domestic generation capacity.

Central Puerto was established during the restructuring and privatization of Argentina's electricity sector and has expanded its generation portfolio through investments in conventional and renewable energy projects.

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