Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Here’s What Happened

Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU) shares hit a new 52-week low on Monday. The company traded as low as $10.31 and last traded at $10.2610, with a volume of 205,261 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.61.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on CEPU shares. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Central Puerto in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Central Puerto from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 17th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Central Puerto from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Central Puerto currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $28.00.

Central Puerto Price Performance

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $12.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.61. The company has a market cap of $1.56 billion, a PE ratio of 3.44 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Central Puerto Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a special dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Investors of record on Monday, September 28th were paid a $1.0758 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 28th. Central Puerto’s dividend payout ratio is currently 29.67%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Central Puerto

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. SPX Gestao de Recursos Ltda acquired a new stake in shares of Central Puerto during the first quarter worth approximately $6,084,000. Absolute Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. acquired a new position in Central Puerto in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $4,814,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in Central Puerto by 285.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 132,818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,235,000 after buying an additional 98,380 shares during the period. Walleye Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Central Puerto in the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,349,000. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new stake in Central Puerto in the 1st quarter worth approximately $271,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.97% of the company’s stock.

About Central Puerto

Central Puerto SA is an Argentine electricity generation company that develops, owns and operates power-generation facilities. Its portfolio includes thermal, hydroelectric and renewable energy assets, enabling the company to supply electricity from a range of generation technologies.

The company sells power primarily through Argentina’s wholesale electricity market and serves the country’s electric system. Its operations are concentrated in Argentina, where it supplies electricity to the national grid and participates in the development and expansion of domestic generation capacity.

Central Puerto was established during the restructuring and privatization of Argentina’s electricity sector and has expanded its generation portfolio through investments in conventional and renewable energy projects.