VAALCO Energy (NYSE:EGY) Lowered to “Hold” Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of VAALCO Energy (NYSE:EGY) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Tuesday morning.

VAALCO Energy Price Performance

Shares of VAALCO Energy stock opened at $4.25 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $446.13 million, a PE ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 1.18. VAALCO Energy has a 12-month low of $3.96 and a 12-month high of $7.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $4.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.22.

VAALCO Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.0625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.89%. VAALCO Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 29.41%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On VAALCO Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in VAALCO Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $226,000. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new stake in shares of VAALCO Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $141,000. GTS Securities LLC grew its stake in shares of VAALCO Energy by 49.1% in the fourth quarter. GTS Securities LLC now owns 19,268 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 6,343 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in shares of VAALCO Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $497,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC grew its position in VAALCO Energy by 49.0% during the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 29,339 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $128,000 after buying an additional 9,654 shares during the period. 50.32% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

VAALCO Energy Company Profile

VAALCO Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Canada. The company holds 58.8% interest in the Etame production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block covering an area of approximately 46,200 gross acres located offshore in the Republic of Gabon in West Africa.