Mutual Advisors LLC Increases Holdings in Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR)

Mutual Advisors LLC lifted its position in Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) by 38.9% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 13,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,836 shares during the period. Mutual Advisors LLC’s holdings in Spire were worth $941,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of SR. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Spire by 8.3% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 944,387 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $57,351,000 after purchasing an additional 72,119 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Spire by 197.2% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 21,100 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,281,000 after purchasing an additional 14,000 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Spire by 75.3% in the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 14,622 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $888,000 after purchasing an additional 6,283 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Spire by 28.8% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 127,781 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $7,760,000 after buying an additional 28,602 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Spire by 290.9% during the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 130,827 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $7,877,000 after buying an additional 97,358 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.36% of the company’s stock.

Spire Price Performance

SR stock opened at $69.62 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.45. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $68.92 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.56. Spire Inc. has a one year low of $56.36 and a one year high of $73.64. The company has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a PE ratio of 16.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.57.

Spire Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 11th were issued a dividend of $3.14 per share. This represents a $12.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 18.04%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 11th. This is an increase from Spire’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. Spire’s dividend payout ratio is 72.85%.

Insider Activity

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have weighed in 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 research report on Friday, November 22nd. UBS Group boosted their price target on Spire from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Bank of America initiated coverage on Spire in a research note on Friday, December 13th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $70.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Spire from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott assumed coverage on shares of Spire in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $73.00 target price on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $71.50.

About Spire

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.