Hess (NYSE:HES) Now Covered by StockNews.com

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Hess (NYSE:HES) in a research note released on Saturday. The firm issued a hold rating on the oil and gas producer’s stock.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on HES. Pickering Energy Partners upgraded Hess to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Hess from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $151.00 to $193.00 in a research report on Monday, December 9th. Citigroup lifted their price target on Hess from $145.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Hess from $185.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $170.60.

Hess Stock Down 2.0 %

HES stock opened at $147.96 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.12. The company has a market capitalization of $45.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.44 and a beta of 1.17. Hess has a fifty-two week low of $123.79 and a fifty-two week high of $163.98. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $141.02 and a 200-day moving average of $139.12.

Hess (NYSE:HES) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.32. Hess had a return on equity of 26.32% and a net margin of 21.27%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Hess will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Hess Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th were paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 16th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.35%. Hess’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.22%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hess

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of HES. J.Safra Asset Management Corp purchased a new position in Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Groupama Asset Managment increased its stake in Hess by 22.7% in the 3rd quarter. Groupama Asset Managment now owns 22,606 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 4,186 shares during the period. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Hess by 59.8% in the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 262 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 88.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Hess

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.