Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Korea Electric Power shares fell to a new 52-week low of $10.75, below both their 50-day average of $11.59 and 200-day average of $12.75.
• Analyst sentiment is largely negative: Zacks Research downgraded the stock to “strong sell,” Nomura cut it to “neutral,” and MarketBeat’s consensus rating is “Reduce.”
• The company missed quarterly expectations, reporting $0.14 in EPS versus the $1.03 consensus and revenue of $14.60 billion versus estimates of $19.67 billion, despite a reported 8.15% net margin.

Shares of Korea Electric Power Corporation (NYSE:KEP - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday. The company traded as low as $10.75 and last traded at $10.74, with a volume of 8,152 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $11.03.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Zacks Research lowered Korea Electric Power from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. Nomura cut shares of Korea Electric Power from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised Korea Electric Power from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a report on Thursday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Korea Electric Power has an average rating of "Reduce".

Korea Electric Power Stock Performance

The firm's 50 day moving average is $11.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.82 billion, a PE ratio of 2.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.96.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, September 15th. The utilities provider reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.03 by ($0.89). The firm had revenue of $14.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.67 billion. Korea Electric Power had a net margin of 8.15% and a return on equity of 15.70%. As a group, research analysts predict that Korea Electric Power Corporation will post 2.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Korea Electric Power

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in Korea Electric Power by 47.0% in the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,264 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 724 shares in the last quarter. Ariadne Wealth Management LP raised its stake in Korea Electric Power by 5.8% during the fourth quarter. Ariadne Wealth Management LP now owns 19,438 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 1,059 shares in the last quarter. Global Trust Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Korea Electric Power during the first quarter worth $28,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Korea Electric Power by 5.8% during the first quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 44,565 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $635,000 after purchasing an additional 2,427 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in Korea Electric Power by 5.8% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 67,637 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $964,000 after acquiring an additional 3,696 shares during the period.

Korea Electric Power Company Profile

Korea Electric Power Corporation, commonly known as KEPCO, is South Korea's state-owned electric utility. The company is responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity across the country and supplies power to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

KEPCO's activities include managing the national electricity grid, operating power-generation businesses through affiliated companies and developing energy infrastructure. Its generation-related operations span nuclear, coal, natural gas, renewable energy and other sources, while its subsidiaries include major South Korean power producers such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.

Established in 1982, KEPCO has also pursued overseas projects involving power generation, transmission and distribution.

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