Spire (NYSE:SR) Stock Rating Upgraded by StockNews.com

Spire (NYSE:SR) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Saturday.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered Spire from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $65.50 to $60.50 in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Spire from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on shares of Spire in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $73.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Spire from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Mizuho raised shares of Spire from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $65.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Friday, December 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Spire has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $71.50.

Spire Price Performance

Spire stock opened at $65.67 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.80 billion, a PE ratio of 15.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 0.45 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $68.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $65.97. Spire has a one year low of $56.36 and a one year high of $73.64.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Paul D. Koonce purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $73.61 per share, with a total value of $73,610.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,425 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $178,504.25. This represents a 70.18 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer Adam W. Woodard sold 1,150 shares of Spire stock in a transaction on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.47, for a total transaction of $77,590.50. Following the transaction, the treasurer now directly owns 2,587 shares in the company, valued at $174,544.89. This represents a 30.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.33% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Spire

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SR. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Spire during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Spire by 87.2% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 438 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 204 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Spire by 1,318.4% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 539 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 501 shares during the period. Missouri Trust & Investment Co grew its stake in Spire by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 900 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $61,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in Spire by 38.9% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,057 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 296 shares during the period. 87.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Spire Company Profile

Spire Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, retail distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and other end-users of natural gas in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream. It is also involved in the marketing of natural gas and related services; and transportation and storage of natural gas.