Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR) Downgraded to “Sell” Rating by StockNews.com

Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Darling Ingredients from $46.00 to $44.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $52.00 price target on shares of Darling Ingredients in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $52.75.

Darling Ingredients Price Performance

Darling Ingredients stock traded up $0.08 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $29.90. 2,581,462 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,117,460. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.41. Darling Ingredients has a one year low of $27.20 and a one year high of $48.39. The stock has a market cap of $4.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.28 and a beta of 1.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $35.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.58.

Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.15. Darling Ingredients had a net margin of 4.88% and a return on equity of 6.04%. On average, equities analysts predict that Darling Ingredients will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Darling Ingredients

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Algert Global LLC raised its stake in shares of Darling Ingredients by 266.6% during the third quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 103,871 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,860,000 after acquiring an additional 75,540 shares during the last quarter. Erste Asset Management GmbH bought a new position in Darling Ingredients during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,545,000. Sycomore Asset Management raised its position in Darling Ingredients by 101.2% during the 4th quarter. Sycomore Asset Management now owns 130,096 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,743,000 after purchasing an additional 65,444 shares during the last quarter. KBC Group NV lifted its holdings in Darling Ingredients by 180.1% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 104,143 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,509,000 after buying an additional 66,966 shares during the period. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in shares of Darling Ingredients by 203.2% in the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,844,297 shares of the company’s stock worth $62,134,000 after buying an additional 1,235,985 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.44% of the company’s stock.

About Darling Ingredients

Darling Ingredients Inc develops, produces, and sells natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients in North America, Europe, China, South America, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients, and Fuel Ingredients. It offers ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy, and fertilizer industries.