Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $264.27, but opened at $282.96. Centrus Energy shares last traded at $274.0640, with a volume of 445,663 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LEU has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of Centrus Energy in a research note on Tuesday, August 26th. Northland Securities set a $275.00 price objective on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Centrus Energy from $275.00 to $245.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Bank of America restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $285.00 price target (up previously from $210.00) on shares of Centrus Energy in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Centrus Energy from $251.00 to $252.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, August 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $224.60.

Centrus Energy Stock Down 4.2%

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $321.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $225.09. The company has a market cap of $4.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.26 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.93.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.17). Centrus Energy had a return on equity of 84.09% and a net margin of 16.56%.During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.30) EPS. Centrus Energy’s revenue was up 29.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Centrus Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in Centrus Energy by 10.6% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 4,496 shares of the company’s stock worth $280,000 after buying an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its position in shares of Centrus Energy by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 4,504 shares of the company’s stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Centrus Energy in the 1st quarter worth $744,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new stake in shares of Centrus Energy during the first quarter worth $591,000. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Centrus Energy during the first quarter valued at $1,128,000. 49.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Centrus Energy Company Profile

Centrus Energy Corp. supplies nuclear fuel components and services for the nuclear power industry in the United States, Belgium, Japan, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and Technical Solutions. The LEU segment sells separative work units (SWU) components of LEU; natural uranium hexafluoride, uranium concentrates, and uranium conversion; and enriched uranium products to utilities that operate nuclear power plants.