Sandstorm Gold (NYSE:SAND) Sets New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Sandstorm Gold Ltd (NYSE:SAND - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $9.69 and last traded at $9.59, with a volume of 3088437 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $9.42.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SAND has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Scotiabank upped their target price on shares of Sandstorm Gold from $7.25 to $8.25 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Sandstorm Gold from $6.50 to $7.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, April 4th. National Bankshares restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Sandstorm Gold in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. Wall Street Zen raised Sandstorm Gold from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, HC Wainwright increased their price objective on Sandstorm Gold from $11.50 to $11.75 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $9.25.

Sandstorm Gold Stock Up 2.5%

The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 96.61 and a beta of 0.46. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $8.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.32.

Sandstorm Gold (NYSE:SAND - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The company reported $0.04 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.05 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $50.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $71.61 million. Sandstorm Gold had a net margin of 15.80% and a return on equity of 2.00%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Sandstorm Gold Ltd will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sandstorm Gold Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.02 per share. This represents a $0.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 15th. This is a positive change from Sandstorm Gold's previous quarterly dividend of $0.01. Sandstorm Gold's payout ratio is currently 60.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in SAND. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC grew its stake in shares of Sandstorm Gold by 7.2% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 339,284 shares of the company's stock worth $2,562,000 after purchasing an additional 22,677 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Sandstorm Gold by 11.3% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,120,393 shares of the company's stock worth $8,459,000 after buying an additional 113,660 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in shares of Sandstorm Gold by 731.7% during the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,032,823 shares of the company's stock worth $15,348,000 after buying an additional 1,788,404 shares during the period. Ancora Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Sandstorm Gold by 49.5% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 597,250 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,509,000 after acquiring an additional 197,710 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sandstorm Gold in the 1st quarter valued at about $4,443,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.97% of the company's stock.

Sandstorm Gold Company Profile

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. operates as a gold royalty company. The company focuses on acquiring royalties and gold and other metals purchase agreements from companies that have advanced stage operating mines. It offers upfront payments for companies to acquire a stream and receives the right to purchase a percentage of a mine's production for the life of the mine.