Safe Bulkers (NYSE:SB) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume

Safe Bulkers, Inc. (NYSE:SB) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Monday . Approximately 373,074 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 49% from the previous session’s volume of 728,331 shares.The stock last traded at $4.86 and had previously closed at $4.78.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of Safe Bulkers from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 1st.

Safe Bulkers Trading Up 4.8 %

The company has a current ratio of 2.11, a quick ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $5.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of $5.12. The company has a market cap of $534.89 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.28 and a beta of 0.91.

Safe Bulkers (NYSE:SB) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 29th. The shipping company reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $78.55 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $69.16 million. Safe Bulkers had a net margin of 31.11% and a return on equity of 10.78%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.12 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Safe Bulkers, Inc. will post 0.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Safe Bulkers Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 21st will be given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 21st. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.99%. Safe Bulkers’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 29.41%.

Institutional Trading of Safe Bulkers

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Safe Bulkers in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in Safe Bulkers by 432.8% in the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 15,031 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 12,210 shares during the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Safe Bulkers during the fourth quarter worth $85,000. Bleakley Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Safe Bulkers during the fourth quarter worth $85,000. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise grew its stake in shares of Safe Bulkers by 14.4% in the second quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 16,863 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $98,000 after buying an additional 2,129 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 21.69% of the company’s stock.

Safe Bulkers Company Profile

Safe Bulkers, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides marine drybulk transportation services. It owns and operates drybulk vessels for transporting bulk cargoes primarily coal, grain, and iron ore. The company has a fleet of 47 drybulk vessels having an aggregate carrying capacity of 4,719,600 deadweight tons.