Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC Reduces Position in Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC)

Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE:EC - Free Report) by 91.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 10,049 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after selling 108,655 shares during the quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC's holdings in Ecopetrol were worth $80,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Lindbrook Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ecopetrol by 317.5% in the fourth quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 4,784 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 3,638 shares in the last quarter. Platinum Investment Management Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Ecopetrol in the fourth quarter worth approximately $44,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Ecopetrol by 33.5% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 8,480 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $67,000 after purchasing an additional 2,128 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Ecopetrol in the fourth quarter worth approximately $86,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ecopetrol by 13.1% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 10,978 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $87,000 after purchasing an additional 1,271 shares during the last quarter.

Ecopetrol Stock Performance

EC stock traded down $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $8.58. 152,435 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,436,100. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $9.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.38. The company has a market cap of $17.64 billion, a PE ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 0.82. Ecopetrol S.A. has a 1 year low of $7.21 and a 1 year high of $12.67.

Ecopetrol Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 28th were paid a $0.5202 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 34.2%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 28th. Ecopetrol's payout ratio is presently 72.25%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EC has been the subject of several recent research reports. Citigroup raised Ecopetrol from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $9.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. StockNews.com lowered Ecopetrol from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Ecopetrol from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $7.50 to $9.50 in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ecopetrol has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $11.00.

Ecopetrol Profile

Ecopetrol SA operates as an integrated energy company. The company operates through four segments: Exploration and Production; Transport and Logistics; Refining, Petrochemical and Biofuels; and Electric Power Transmission and Toll Roads Concessions. It engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas; transportation of crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, including diesel, jet, and biofuels; processing and refining crude oil; distribution of natural gas and LPG; sale of refined and petrochemical products; supplying of electric power transmission services; design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of road and energy infrastructure projects; and supplying of information technology and telecommunications services.