Raymond James Financial Inc. Makes New Investment in Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:EPM)

Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:EPM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 282,496 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,477,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. owned about 0.84% of Evolution Petroleum at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Evolution Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at $113,000. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 31.0% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 629,696 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,293,000 after buying an additional 149,130 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 166.4% during the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 33,451 shares of the company's stock worth $175,000 after buying an additional 20,894 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Evolution Petroleum by 30.9% during the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 32,634 shares of the company's stock worth $171,000 after buying an additional 7,709 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its position in Evolution Petroleum by 25.1% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 13,223 shares of the company's stock valued at $69,000 after acquiring an additional 2,650 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.07% of the company's stock.

Evolution Petroleum Stock Performance

EPM remained flat at $4.10 during trading on Tuesday. The company's stock had a trading volume of 95,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 176,194. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $4.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $5.15. Evolution Petroleum Corporation has a 12 month low of $4.08 and a 12 month high of $6.14. The company has a market capitalization of $140.44 million, a P/E ratio of 82.02 and a beta of 0.49.

Evolution Petroleum Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.71%. Evolution Petroleum's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 960.00%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Evolution Petroleum from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Northland Capmk lowered shares of Evolution Petroleum from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Northland Securities cut their price objective on shares of Evolution Petroleum from $7.00 to $6.50 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 6th.

About Evolution Petroleum

Evolution Petroleum Corporation, an energy company, engages in the development, production, ownership, and exploitation of onshore oil and gas properties in the United States. The company holds a non-operated interests in the SCOOP and STACK plays located in Central Oklahoma; the Chaveroo Field situated in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico; the Jonah Field located in Sublette County, Wyoming; the Williston Basin situated in Williston, North Dakota; the Barnett Shale field located in North Texas; the Hamilton Dome situated in Hot Springs County, Wyoming; and the Delhi Field, an onshore CO2-EOR project located in northeast Louisiana in Franklin, Madison, and Richland Parishes, as well as small overriding royalty interests in four onshore central Texas wells.