Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the nineteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seventeen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $51.06.

BKR has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Baker Hughes from $49.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Baker Hughes from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Baker Hughes from $53.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Baker Hughes from $48.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their price objective on Baker Hughes from $53.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd.

Insider Buying and Selling at Baker Hughes

In other news, EVP Maria C. Borras sold 8,000 shares of Baker Hughes stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.77, for a total value of $358,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 173,302 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,758,730.54. The trade was a 4.41 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.25% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Baker Hughes

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. 111 Capital purchased a new position in shares of Baker Hughes during the 4th quarter worth about $763,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Baker Hughes by 36.8% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 54,799 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,248,000 after purchasing an additional 14,749 shares during the last quarter. Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ purchased a new position in shares of Baker Hughes during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $13,057,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Baker Hughes during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $155,000. Finally, Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH grew its stake in shares of Baker Hughes by 7.2% during the fourth quarter. Siemens Fonds Invest GmbH now owns 13,523 shares of the company’s stock valued at $555,000 after buying an additional 905 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.06% of the company’s stock.

Baker Hughes Trading Down 1.3 %

NASDAQ:BKR opened at $44.11 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $44.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.32. Baker Hughes has a one year low of $30.93 and a one year high of $49.40.

Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.63 by $0.07. Baker Hughes had a return on equity of 14.58% and a net margin of 10.70%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Baker Hughes will post 2.59 EPS for the current year.

Baker Hughes Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 11th were paid a dividend of $0.23 per share. This is an increase from Baker Hughes’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 11th. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.09%. Baker Hughes’s dividend payout ratio is presently 30.87%.

Baker Hughes Company Profile

Baker Hughes Company provides a portfolio of technologies and services to energy and industrial value chain worldwide. The company operates through Oilfield Services & Equipment (OFSE) and Industrial & Energy Technology (IET) segments. The OFSE segment designs and manufactures products and provides related services, including exploration, appraisal, development, production, rejuvenation, and decommissioning for onshore and offshore oilfield operations.