Sandstorm Gold (NYSE:SAND) Sets New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. (NYSE:SAND) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $7.78 and last traded at $7.62, with a volume of 5886753 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.23.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SAND has been the topic of several analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Sandstorm Gold from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. HC Wainwright lowered their target price on shares of Sandstorm Gold from $12.00 to $11.50 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Sandstorm Gold from $6.50 to $7.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 4th. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Sandstorm Gold in a report on Friday, April 4th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price objective on shares of Sandstorm Gold from $6.75 to $7.25 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Sandstorm Gold currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $8.81.

Sandstorm Gold Price Performance

The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $6.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $6.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 2.29. The firm has a market cap of $2.34 billion, a PE ratio of 158.11 and a beta of 0.90.

Sandstorm Gold (NYSE:SAND) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 18th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.04 by ($0.03). Sandstorm Gold had a net margin of 8.11% and a return on equity of 0.98%. The company had revenue of $47.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $67.49 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.04) EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Sandstorm Gold Ltd. will post 0.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sandstorm Gold Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.014 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 14th. This represents a $0.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.71%. Sandstorm Gold’s dividend payout ratio is currently 100.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sandstorm Gold

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Boston Partners boosted its holdings in Sandstorm Gold by 39,289.9% in the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 9,812,015 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,751,000 after purchasing an additional 9,787,105 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its holdings in Sandstorm Gold by 580.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 2,314,684 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,916,000 after acquiring an additional 1,974,600 shares in the last quarter. Sprott Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Sandstorm Gold by 77.9% in the 4th quarter. Sprott Inc. now owns 4,465,843 shares of the company’s stock valued at $24,925,000 after purchasing an additional 1,955,916 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Sandstorm Gold by 35.0% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,522,246 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,394,000 after purchasing an additional 1,691,296 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Amundi grew its stake in shares of Sandstorm Gold by 74.9% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 2,890,535 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,447,000 after purchasing an additional 1,238,050 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.97% of the company’s stock.

About Sandstorm Gold

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. operates as a gold royalty company. The company focuses on acquiring royalties and gold and other metals purchase agreements from companies that have advanced stage operating mines. It offers upfront payments for companies to acquire a stream and receives the right to purchase a percentage of a mine's production for the life of the mine.