Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Hits New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Centrus Energy shares hit a new 52-week low, falling to about $98.01 from a prior close of $102.45. The stock is trading well below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
• Despite the decline, analysts maintain a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average price target of $206.19, although recent targets from Barclays and Bank of America were reduced.
• The company reported strong quarterly results, including EPS of $1.77 versus the $0.74 estimate and 14% year-over-year revenue growth to $176.1 million. Centrus supplies nuclear fuel and is developing HALEU fuel for next-generation reactors.

Shares of Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday. The stock traded as low as $98.01 and last traded at $97.9050, with a volume of 68,772 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $102.45.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Northland Securities set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Centrus Energy in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. They set a "hold" rating and a $169.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Centrus Energy from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Centrus Energy from $240.00 to $205.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Centrus Energy from $207.00 to $150.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Centrus Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $206.19.

Centrus Energy Stock Down 1.6%

The company's 50-day simple moving average is $152.53 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $171.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.71, a P/E/G ratio of 8.14 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 5.39 and a quick ratio of 4.52.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.77 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.74 by $1.03. Centrus Energy had a net margin of 10.23% and a return on equity of 7.06%. The company had revenue of $176.10 million during the quarter. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.59 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 4.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centrus Energy

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Western Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Centrus Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Leonteq Securities AG purchased a new position in Centrus Energy in the 1st quarter worth $35,000. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in Centrus Energy by 172.4% in the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 237 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Vestor Capital LLC bought a new stake in Centrus Energy in the first quarter worth $55,000. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Centrus Energy by 38.5% in the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 338 shares of the company's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.96% of the company's stock.

Centrus Energy Company Profile

Centrus Energy Corp. NYSE: LEU is a U.S.-based supplier of nuclear fuel and related services. The company provides enriched uranium products, including low-enriched uranium used to fuel commercial nuclear reactors, as well as uranium and fuel-management services for utilities and other customers in the nuclear energy industry.

Centrus is also developing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), an advanced fuel intended for certain next-generation and small modular reactors. Its American Centrifuge technology is being developed to support domestic uranium enrichment and reduce reliance on foreign fuel-supply chains.

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