Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) Hits New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Ultrapar Participações S.A. (NYSE:UGP)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $3.63 and last traded at $3.63, with a volume of 31450 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.66.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. HSBC upgraded Ultrapar Participações from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, July 19th. StockNews.com raised shares of Ultrapar Participações from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of Ultrapar Participações from $5.90 to $5.20 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, Hsbc Global Res raised Ultrapar Participações from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, July 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Ultrapar Participações presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $5.20.

Ultrapar Participações Trading Down 1.9 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.00 billion, a PE ratio of 6.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.60. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $4.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.33.

Ultrapar Participações (NYSE:UGP) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 7th. The oil and gas company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08. Ultrapar Participações had a return on equity of 20.24% and a net margin of 2.21%. The business had revenue of $6.21 billion during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Ultrapar Participações S.A. will post 0.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ultrapar Participações Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 19th were issued a $0.0446 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 19th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7%. Ultrapar Participações’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.38%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ultrapar Participações

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. D Orazio & Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 30.3% in the 2nd quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. now owns 15,046 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 3,498 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 36.1% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 17,923 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 4,757 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its position in Ultrapar Participações by 67.9% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 16,017 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 6,476 shares during the last quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Ultrapar Participações by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 115,775 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $662,000 after purchasing an additional 7,638 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ultrapar Participações by 33.7% in the third quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 38,838 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $151,000 after buying an additional 9,794 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.58% of the company’s stock.

About Ultrapar Participações

Ultrapar Participações SA, through its subsidiaries, operates in the energy and infrastructure business in Brazil. The company distributes liquefied petroleum gas to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, in addition to renewable electricity and compressed natural gas. It also operates in the distribution and marketing of gasoline, ethanol, diesel, fuel oil, kerosene, natural gas for vehicles, and lubricants; and holds AmPm convenience stores and provides JetOil lubricant services.