Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Vale currently has a consensus analyst rating of "Moderate Buy" from 15 covering analysts, with an average 1-year price target of about $15.95. The group includes 8 buy ratings, 1 strong buy, and 6 hold ratings.
• Several analysts recently adjusted their views and targets on the stock, including upgrades from Wall Street Zen and higher price targets from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and UBS. Royal Bank of Canada, however, downgraded Vale to sector perform while also raising its target.
• Insiders have been buying shares, with vice president Sobrinho Sami Arap and insider Parenti Grazielle Tallia both purchasing stock at $16.11 per share in April. Vale also reported quarterly EPS of $0.44, below estimates, while the stock was trading near its 52-week high.

Shares of Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by the fifteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $15.9462.

VALE has been the subject of several research reports. Wall Street Zen raised Vale from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Sunday, May 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Vale from $13.80 to $18.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Vale from $18.00 to $18.50 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Vale from an "outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $14.50 to $15.50 in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Vale from $12.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, March 27th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vale news, VP Sobrinho Sami Arap bought 12,990 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $209,268.90. Following the completion of the acquisition, the vice president owned 12,990 shares of the company's stock, valued at $209,268.90. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Parenti Grazielle Tallia purchased 10,464 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 1st. The stock was bought at an average price of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $168,575.04. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider owned 10,464 shares of the company's stock, valued at $168,575.04. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VALE. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Vale during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Investors Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Spolka Akcyjna raised its position in shares of Vale by 128.3% in the 4th quarter. Investors Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Spolka Akcyjna now owns 2,055 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 1,155 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vale by 60.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,748 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,030 shares during the period. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in Vale in the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 21.85% of the company's stock.

Vale Stock Up 2.7%

Shares of VALE opened at $16.63 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $75.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.81 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.24. Vale has a 52 week low of $8.97 and a 52 week high of $17.94. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $16.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $14.63.

Vale (NYSE:VALE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.52 by ($0.08). Vale had a return on equity of 21.10% and a net margin of 7.21%.The firm had revenue of $9.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.53 billion. On average, analysts forecast that Vale will post 2.12 earnings per share for the current year.

About Vale

Vale SA is a Brazilian multinational mining company and one of the world's largest producers of iron ore and iron ore pellets. In addition to iron ore, the company produces and sells a range of bulk commodities and metals, including nickel, copper, coal, manganese, ferroalloys and cobalt, and it participates in the fertilizer inputs market. Vale also operates extensive logistics assets — including rail, port and maritime logistics — that support its mining and export activities and provide services to third parties in some regions.

Headquartered in Brazil, Vale maintains a global operational footprint with mining, processing and shipping activities across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

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