Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) Earns Sell Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) in a research report released on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the industrial products company’s stock.

Separately, Craig Hallum cut shares of Vertex Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $1.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Friday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $2.63.

Vertex Energy Trading Down 10.5 %

Shares of NASDAQ VTNR opened at $0.12 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $0.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.90. Vertex Energy has a 52-week low of $0.11 and a 52-week high of $5.04.

Vertex Energy (NASDAQ:VTNR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The industrial products company reported ($0.58) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.10) by ($0.48). The company had revenue of $750.06 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $729.29 million. Vertex Energy had a negative return on equity of 58.04% and a negative net margin of 3.61%. During the same period last year, the business posted ($0.55) EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Vertex Energy will post -0.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vertex Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VTNR. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Vertex Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Oracle Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Vertex Energy by 97.6% during the fourth quarter. Oracle Investment Management Inc. now owns 50,000 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $170,000 after purchasing an additional 24,700 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Vertex Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,092,000. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vertex Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vertex Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Institutional investors own 42.99% of the company’s stock.

About Vertex Energy

Vertex Energy, Inc, an energy transition company, that focuses on the production and distribution of conventional and alternative fuels. The company engages in refining and distributing petroleum products comprising the mobile refinery and related operations. It sells ferrous and non-ferrous recyclable metal products, and markets Group III base oils and other petroleum-based products, as well as provides transportation and marine salvage services.