Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET) Shares Up 4.8% - Time to Buy?

Key Points

• Vermilion Energy shares rose by 4.8% to $7.91, despite trading volume dropping significantly by 82% compared to the average session.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, yielding 6.7%, which will be paid on October 15th.
• Analysts have mixed opinions on the stock, with two firms upgrading it to a "buy" rating while others have lowered ratings, resulting in a consensus of "Moderate Buy."

Vermilion Energy Inc. (NYSE:VET - Get Free Report) TSE: VET traded up 4.8% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $7.89 and last traded at $7.91. 214,339 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 1,217,317 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.54.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Vermilion Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, August 9th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Vermilion Energy in a report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Desjardins upgraded Vermilion Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy".

Vermilion Energy Trading Down 3.6%

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.66 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 1.84 and a current ratio of 1.94. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $7.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.31.

Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET - Get Free Report) TSE: VET last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.20) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.06) by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $392.33 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $562.50 million. Vermilion Energy had a negative net margin of 9.29% and a positive return on equity of 0.17%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Vermilion Energy Inc. will post 0.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Vermilion Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 29th will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 29th. Vermilion Energy's payout ratio is currently -43.68%.

Institutional Trading of Vermilion Energy

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. LM Asset IM Inc. acquired a new stake in Vermilion Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $18,806,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Vermilion Energy by 317.5% during the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,974,742 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $14,423,000 after purchasing an additional 1,501,741 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in Vermilion Energy by 764.1% in the first quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 699,900 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $5,667,000 after acquiring an additional 618,900 shares during the last quarter. Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new position in Vermilion Energy during the 1st quarter worth $4,396,000. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vermilion Energy by 51.4% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,630,488 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $13,207,000 after acquiring an additional 553,281 shares during the period. 31.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vermilion Energy Company Profile

Vermilion Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas. The company has properties in West Central Alberta, southeast Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and West Pembina in Canada; Wyoming in the United States; southwest Bordeaux and Paris Basin in France; the Netherlands; Germany; Ireland; Croatia; Slovakia; and Australia.