UGI (NYSE:UGI) Sets New 52-Week High - Here's Why

UGI Co. (NYSE:UGI - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $36.37 and last traded at $36.17, with a volume of 210052 shares. The stock had previously closed at $36.06.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

UGI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Mizuho upped their target price on UGI from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of UGI from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 15th.

UGI Stock Up 0.6%

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $33.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.00, a PEG ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 1.06. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44.

UGI (NYSE:UGI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $2.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.41. The company had revenue of $2.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.26 billion. UGI had a return on equity of 15.19% and a net margin of 7.73%. UGI's revenue was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.97 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that UGI Co. will post 3.02 earnings per share for the current year.

UGI Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. UGI's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.73%.

Institutional Trading of UGI

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UGI. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in UGI during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of UGI by 216.7% during the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 893 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of UGI in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in UGI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, CX Institutional bought a new stake in UGI during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.34% of the company's stock.

UGI Company Profile

UGI Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, distributes, stores, transports, and markets energy products and related services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: AmeriGas Propane, UGI International, Midstream & Marketing, and UGI Utilities. It distributes propane to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial/industrial, motor fuel, agricultural, and wholesale customers through 1,400 propane distribution locations.