Raymond James Financial Inc. Takes $1.48 Million Position in Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:EPM)

Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:EPM - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 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.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Legal & General Group Plc raised its stake in Evolution Petroleum by 56.7% during the fourth quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 12,088 shares of the company's stock worth $63,000 after acquiring an additional 4,375 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Evolution Petroleum in the 4th quarter worth approximately $68,000. SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its position in Evolution Petroleum by 25.1% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 13,223 shares of the company's stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 2,650 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in Evolution Petroleum by 45.5% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 15,848 shares of the company's stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 4,955 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Evolution Petroleum in the fourth quarter worth $113,000. 60.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Northland Securities reduced their price target on shares of Evolution Petroleum from $7.00 to $6.50 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Northland Capmk lowered shares of Evolution Petroleum from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Alliance Global Partners began coverage on Evolution Petroleum in a research report on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating and a $5.70 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Evolution Petroleum from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th.

Evolution Petroleum Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EPM traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $4.16. The company had a trading volume of 25,125 shares, compared to its average volume of 175,318. Evolution Petroleum Corporation has a 1-year low of $4.05 and a 1-year high of $6.14. The stock has a market cap of $142.50 million, a PE ratio of 83.22 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a current ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $4.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $5.14.

Evolution Petroleum Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.54%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. Evolution Petroleum's dividend payout ratio is presently 960.00%.

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.