Woodside Energy Group (NYSE:WDS) Shares Gap Up - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Woodside Energy Group's stock price opened at $15.01 after closing at $14.46, reflecting a significant gap up prior to trading on Wednesday.
• The company declared a semi-annual dividend of $0.53, up from the previous $0.51, demonstrating an increase despite a high dividend payout ratio of 124.39%.
• Market analysts have mixed views on the stock, with ratings ranging from a strong buy to a sell, leading to an average rating of Moderate Buy according to MarketBeat data.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (NYSE:WDS - Get Free Report)'s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $14.46, but opened at $15.01. Woodside Energy Group shares last traded at $15.15, with a volume of 256,847 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently issued reports on WDS shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded Woodside Energy Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, October 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Woodside Energy Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, CLSA upgraded Woodside Energy Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

Woodside Energy Group Stock Up 4.4%

The company has a market capitalization of $28.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.41 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $15.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.21.

Woodside Energy Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th were paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 616.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 29th. This is a positive change from Woodside Energy Group's previous semi-annual dividend of $0.51. Woodside Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 124.39%.

Institutional Trading of Woodside Energy Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in Woodside Energy Group in the first quarter valued at $470,000. Vident Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Woodside Energy Group by 65.9% in the first quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 78,364 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,136,000 after purchasing an additional 31,117 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Woodside Energy Group by 10.8% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 167,110 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,421,000 after purchasing an additional 16,340 shares during the period. Hourglass Capital LLC increased its holdings in Woodside Energy Group by 19.4% in the first quarter. Hourglass Capital LLC now owns 270,110 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,914,000 after purchasing an additional 43,861 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Woodside Energy Group by 7.0% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 39,368 shares of the company's stock valued at $570,000 after purchasing an additional 2,560 shares during the period. 3.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Woodside Energy Group Company Profile

Woodside Energy Group Ltd engages in the exploration, evaluation, development, production, and marketing of hydrocarbons in the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Americas, and the Europe. The company produces liquefied natural gas, pipeline gas, crude oil and condensate, and natural gas liquids. It holds interests in the Pluto LNG, North West Shelf, Wheatstone and Julimar-Brunello, Bass Strait, Ngujima-Yin FPSO, Okha FPSO, Pyrenees FPSO, Macedon, Shenzi, Mad dog, Greater Angostura, as well as Scarborough, Sangomar, Trion, Calypso, Browse, Liard, Atlantis, Woodside Solar opportunity, and Sunrise and Troubadour.

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