Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET) Trading 3.4% Higher – Time to Buy?

Shares of Vermilion Energy Inc. (NYSE:VET) (TSE:VET) traded up 3.4% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $8.32 and last traded at $8.30. 524,071 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 56% from the average session volume of 1,177,826 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.02.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on VET shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Vermilion Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, March 15th. Atb Cap Markets lowered Vermilion Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Desjardins cut Vermilion Energy from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

Vermilion Energy Trading Up 3.0 %

The company’s 50 day moving average price is $8.99 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.45. The firm has a market cap of $1.28 billion, a PE ratio of -2.21 and a beta of 1.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.19.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.0903 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.37%. This is a positive change from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. Vermilion Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently -163.64%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vermilion Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Vermilion Energy by 14.5% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 7,293,449 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $68,608,000 after buying an additional 921,230 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Vermilion Energy by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,066,063 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $57,100,000 after purchasing an additional 86,425 shares during the last quarter. LM Asset IM Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Vermilion Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $18,806,000. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in shares of Vermilion Energy by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,730,388 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $16,890,000 after purchasing an additional 45,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP grew its stake in shares of Vermilion Energy by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 1,281,074 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $12,042,000 after purchasing an additional 6,765 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.91% of the company’s stock.

Vermilion Energy Company Profile

Vermilion Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas. The company has properties in West Central Alberta, southeast Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and West Pembina in Canada; Wyoming in the United States; southwest Bordeaux and Paris Basin in France; the Netherlands; Germany; Ireland; Croatia; Slovakia; and Australia.