UGI (NYSE:UGI) Reaches New 1-Year High – Here’s Why

UGI Co. (NYSE:UGI) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $30.70 and last traded at $30.73, with a volume of 776938 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $30.32.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of UGI in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $28.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho upgraded UGI from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the company from $27.00 to $30.00 in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of UGI from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, UGI currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $28.33.

UGI Trading Up 1.4 %

The company has a market capitalization of $6.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.76 and a beta of 1.21. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $28.41 and a 200 day moving average of $25.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.80.

UGI Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 16th were issued a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 16th. UGI’s dividend payout ratio is presently 120.97%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On UGI

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UGI. Easterly Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in UGI by 0.8% during the third quarter. Easterly Investment Partners LLC now owns 59,238 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,482,000 after buying an additional 450 shares during the period. Wright Investors Service Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UGI by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc. now owns 37,206 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,050,000 after purchasing an additional 484 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in UGI by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 110,875 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,774,000 after purchasing an additional 489 shares during the last quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors raised its position in UGI by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Abundance Wealth Counselors now owns 29,514 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $833,000 after purchasing an additional 505 shares during the period. Finally, Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in shares of UGI by 7.2% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 7,885 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $197,000 after buying an additional 531 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.34% of the company’s stock.

About UGI

UGI Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, distributes, stores, transports, and markets energy products and related services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: AmeriGas Propane, UGI International, Midstream & Marketing, and UGI Utilities. It distributes propane to approximately 1.3 million residential, commercial/industrial, motor fuel, agricultural, and wholesale customers through 1,400 propane distribution locations.