HighTower Advisors LLC Lowers Stock Holdings in BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP)

HighTower Advisors LLC reduced its position in BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) by 33.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 80,460 shares of the mining company’s stock after selling 41,002 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC’s holdings in BHP Group were worth $3,929,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in BHP Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new stake in BHP Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in BHP Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in BHP Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its stake in BHP Group by 42.9% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 1,169 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 351 shares during the period. 3.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BHP Group Stock Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE BHP opened at $49.30 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $50.02 and a 200-day moving average of $52.58. The company has a quick ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40. BHP Group Limited has a 52-week low of $48.06 and a 52-week high of $63.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $125.02 billion, a PE ratio of 11.21 and a beta of 0.90.

BHP Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a yield of 4.8%. BHP Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.77%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on BHP. StockNews.com cut shares of BHP Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of BHP Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Clarkson Capital raised shares of BHP Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $53.00.

BHP Group Profile

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.