Innospec Inc. (NASDAQ:IOSP) Short Interest Down 31.0% in January

Innospec Inc. (NASDAQ:IOSP) saw a large decrease in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 359,671 shares, a decrease of 31.0% from the December 31st total of 521,031 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 159,161 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.3 days. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 159,161 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.3 days.

Innospec Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ IOSP traded up $0.31 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $81.72. The stock had a trading volume of 189,453 shares, compared to its average volume of 131,549. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $78.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.02. Innospec has a twelve month low of $70.10 and a twelve month high of $116.41. The firm has a market cap of $2.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2,724.00 and a beta of 0.91.

Innospec (NASDAQ:IOSP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.03 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $441.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $443.00 million. Innospec had a negative net margin of 0.07% and a positive return on equity of 10.28%. Innospec’s revenue for the quarter was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.35 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Innospec will post 6.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Innospec Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 18th were paid a $0.87 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 245.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 18th. Innospec’s payout ratio is currently -5,800.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Innospec

In other Innospec news, Director Leslie J. Parrette purchased 340 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was bought at an average price of $74.09 per share, with a total value of $25,190.60. Following the acquisition, the director owned 5,837 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $432,463.33. This represents a 6.19% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.31% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Innospec

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Medina Value Partners LLC acquired a new position in Innospec in the third quarter valued at approximately $18,206,000. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Innospec by 8,176.5% in the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 170,414 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $16,147,000 after acquiring an additional 168,355 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Innospec during the 2nd quarter valued at $11,230,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd boosted its stake in Innospec by 72.1% during the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 306,761 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $25,796,000 after acquiring an additional 128,544 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in Innospec by 512.0% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 129,397 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $9,984,000 after purchasing an additional 108,254 shares during the period. 96.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on IOSP shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Innospec in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded Innospec from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 13th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Innospec from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Reduce”.

Innospec Company Profile

Innospec Incorporated (NASDAQ: IOSP) is a global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The company operates through three principal business segments: Fuel Specialties, Oilfield Services, and Performance Chemicals. In the Fuel Specialties segment, Innospec develops and supplies additives designed to enhance octane levels, improve combustion efficiency, reduce emissions and prevent deposit formation in gasoline and diesel engines. Its Oilfield Services division provides chemical technologies—such as surfactants, corrosion inhibitors and demulsifiers—to support exploration, drilling, production optimization and enhanced oil recovery operations.