Spire (NYSE:SR) Issues Earnings Results

Spire (NYSE:SR) released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $1.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.42 by ($0.08), Zacks reports. Spire had a net margin of 9.52% and a return on equity of 8.10%. Spire updated its FY 2025 guidance to 4.400-4.600 EPS.

Spire Stock Up 0.7 %

NYSE SR traded up $0.48 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $71.53. 86,690 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 348,549. Spire has a 52 week low of $56.99 and a 52 week high of $73.64. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $68.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 0.45 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The company has a market cap of $4.13 billion, a PE ratio of 16.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.58.

Spire Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be paid a $0.785 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 11th. This represents a $3.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.39%. Spire’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 72.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on SR shares. StockNews.com cut Spire from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Sunday, January 19th. Mizuho upgraded Spire from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $65.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Friday, December 20th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Spire from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Spire from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Spire from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $71.50.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Paul D. Koonce bought 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $73.61 per share, for a total transaction of $73,610.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,425 shares in the company, valued at approximately $178,504.25. This trade represents a 70.18 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Treasurer Adam W. Woodard sold 1,150 shares of Spire stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.47, for a total transaction of $77,590.50. Following the sale, the treasurer now directly owns 2,587 shares in the company, valued at approximately $174,544.89. The trade was a 30.77 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 2.33% of the company’s stock.

About Spire

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.