Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the fourteen research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $16.3333.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on VALE. Zacks Research lowered Vale from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Vale from $18.00 to $19.50 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Vale from $13.80 to $18.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Vale from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Vale from $15.50 to $16.50 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Parenti Grazielle Tallia bought 10,464 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $16.11 per share, with a total value of $168,575.04. Following the acquisition, the insider owned 10,464 shares in the company, valued at $168,575.04. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, VP Sobrinho Sami Arap bought 12,990 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $16.11 per share, for a total transaction of $209,268.90. Following the acquisition, the vice president owned 12,990 shares in the company, valued at $209,268.90. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vale

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VALE. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in Vale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Investors Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Spolka Akcyjna grew its position in Vale by 128.3% during the 4th quarter. Investors Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych Spolka Akcyjna now owns 2,055 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,155 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in Vale by 60.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 2,748 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,030 shares during the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC bought a new stake in Vale during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management bought a new stake in Vale during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. 21.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vale Trading Down 1.5%

Shares of Vale stock opened at $16.58 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.26 billion, a PE ratio of 24.75 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $16.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.82. Vale has a 52-week low of $8.97 and a 52-week high of $17.94.

Vale (NYSE:VALE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.52 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $9.26 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.53 billion. Vale had a net margin of 7.21% and a return on equity of 21.10%. On average, analysts expect that Vale will post 2.12 EPS for the current year.

About Vale

Vale SA is a Brazilian multinational mining company and one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore and iron ore pellets. In addition to iron ore, the company produces and sells a range of bulk commodities and metals, including nickel, copper, coal, manganese, ferroalloys and cobalt, and it participates in the fertilizer inputs market. Vale also operates extensive logistics assets — including rail, port and maritime logistics — that support its mining and export activities and provide services to third parties in some regions.

Headquartered in Brazil, Vale maintains a global operational footprint with mining, processing and shipping activities across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.