Short Interest in Adecoagro S.A. (NYSE:AGRO) Expands By 7.9%

Adecoagro S.A. (NYSE:AGRO) was the target of a large growth in short interest in November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,370,000 shares, a growth of 7.9% from the October 31st total of 1,270,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 731,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.9 days. Currently, 1.6% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Adecoagro Stock Performance

AGRO stock traded up $0.14 on Tuesday, reaching $10.94. 1,011,470 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 718,433. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.40 and a quick ratio of 1.09. Adecoagro has a 12 month low of $8.72 and a 12 month high of $12.51. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $11.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.14 billion, a PE ratio of 7.20, a PEG ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.03.

Adecoagro Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 27th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th were paid a $0.174 dividend. This is a boost from Adecoagro’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.9%. Adecoagro’s dividend payout ratio is currently 23.33%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on AGRO shares. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Adecoagro in a report on Monday, October 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $12.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley downgraded Adecoagro from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $14.50 to $12.50 in a report on Tuesday, September 17th. Bank of America cut their target price on Adecoagro from $15.50 to $14.50 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 9th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Adecoagro from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Adecoagro currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $12.63.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Adecoagro

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of Adecoagro in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Adecoagro by 84.0% in the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 43,800 shares of the company’s stock worth $485,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd lifted its position in shares of Adecoagro by 21.9% during the third quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 5,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 933 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its stake in shares of Adecoagro by 14,282.7% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 156,771 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,735,000 after purchasing an additional 155,681 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Adecoagro by 111.0% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 500,113 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,536,000 after purchasing an additional 263,125 shares in the last quarter. 45.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Adecoagro

Adecoagro SA operates as an agro-industrial company in South America. The company mainly operates through three segments: Farming; Sugar, Ethanol and Energy; and Land Transformation. It engages in farming crops, rice and other agricultural products, dairy operations, and land transformation activities, as well as sugar, ethanol, and energy production activities.