Newpark Resources (NYSE:NR) Shares Gap Up to $6.98

Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $6.98, but opened at $8.22. Newpark Resources shares last traded at $7.96, with a volume of 226,065 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have commented on NR. B. Riley boosted their target price on shares of Newpark Resources from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, May 6th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and set a $12.00 target price on shares of Newpark Resources in a research report on Monday, May 6th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Newpark Resources from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Newpark Resources presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $11.00.

Newpark Resources Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $686.73 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.83 and a beta of 2.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.74. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $8.01 and its 200-day moving average is $7.33.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of Newpark Resources by 495.4% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 4,537 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 3,775 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of Newpark Resources during the fourth quarter worth about $49,000. New York State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of Newpark Resources in the first quarter worth about $50,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its stake in shares of Newpark Resources by 179.1% in the first quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 7,404 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 4,751 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new stake in shares of Newpark Resources during the 4th quarter valued at about $59,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.81% of the company’s stock.

About Newpark Resources

Newpark Resources, Inc provides products, rentals, and services primarily to the oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) industry. It operates through two segments, Fluids Systems and Industrial Solutions. The Fluids Systems segment provides drilling, completion, and stimulation fluids products and related technical services to customers primarily in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as other countries in the Asia Pacific and Latin America.