Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET) Trading Up 4.9% - Should You Buy?

Vermilion Energy Inc. (NYSE:VET - Get Free Report) TSE: VET's stock price was up 4.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $6.43 and last traded at $6.40. Approximately 312,855 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 75% from the average daily volume of 1,253,935 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.10.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on VET shares. Desjardins lowered shares of Vermilion Energy from a "moderate buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Atb Cap Markets lowered shares of Vermilion Energy from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Vermilion Energy from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, March 15th.

Vermilion Energy Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The company has a market cap of $986.54 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.71 and a beta of 1.43. The company's fifty day moving average price is $7.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.02.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a $0.0903 dividend. This is an increase from Vermilion Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. Vermilion Energy's payout ratio is currently -163.64%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vermilion Energy

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. LM Asset IM Inc. acquired a new position in Vermilion Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $18,806,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new position in Vermilion Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $10,866,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Vermilion Energy by 14.5% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 7,293,449 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $68,608,000 after buying an additional 921,230 shares during the last quarter. Royce & Associates LP lifted its position in shares of Vermilion Energy by 49.3% during the fourth quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 918,240 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $8,643,000 after acquiring an additional 303,370 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc boosted its stake in Vermilion Energy by 58.4% in the 4th quarter. Man Group plc now owns 731,359 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $6,875,000 after purchasing an additional 269,692 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.91% of the company's stock.

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.