Spire (NYSE:SR) Given New $69.00 Price Target at Stifel Nicolaus

Spire (NYSE:SR) had its price objective cut by equities research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $70.00 to $69.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “hold” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ price objective indicates a potential downside of 3.86% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on SR. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Spire from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Spire from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday. StockNews.com lowered Spire from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday. Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Spire from $62.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Spire from $70.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $68.19.

Spire Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SR traded up $1.11 during trading on Friday, reaching $71.77. 29,850 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 413,206. Spire has a 12 month low of $56.36 and a 12 month high of $71.78. The company has a current ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $65.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $63.76. The firm has a market cap of $4.14 billion, a PE ratio of 17.23, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.52.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Spire

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in Spire during the third quarter valued at $39,228,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of Spire by 197.4% in the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 162,195 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $9,850,000 after acquiring an additional 107,662 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Spire by 290.9% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 130,827 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $7,877,000 after acquiring an additional 97,358 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Spire by 8.3% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 944,387 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $57,351,000 after acquiring an additional 72,119 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Spire by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,385,452 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $93,244,000 after acquiring an additional 71,798 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.36% of the company’s stock.

Spire Company Profile

Spire Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, retail distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and other end-users of natural gas in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream. It is also involved in the marketing of natural gas and related services; and transportation and storage of natural gas.