Desjardins Downgrades Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET) to Hold

Desjardins downgraded shares of Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET) (TSE:VET) from a moderate buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Vermilion Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, March 15th. Atb Cap Markets downgraded Vermilion Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

Vermilion Energy Stock Up 1.2 %

NYSE:VET opened at $8.02 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.24 billion, a P/E ratio of -2.14 and a beta of 1.91. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $8.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.45. Vermilion Energy has a fifty-two week low of $7.09 and a fifty-two week high of $12.79.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.0903 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This is a positive change from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.51%. Vermilion Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently -163.64%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vermilion Energy

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in Vermilion Energy by 14.5% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 7,293,449 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $68,608,000 after acquiring an additional 921,230 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vermilion Energy by 1.4% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,066,063 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $57,100,000 after purchasing an additional 86,425 shares during the last quarter. LM Asset IM Inc. acquired a new position in Vermilion Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $18,806,000. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its holdings in Vermilion Energy by 2.7% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,730,388 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $16,890,000 after purchasing an additional 45,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP grew its position in Vermilion Energy by 0.5% during the 4th 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 during the period. 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.