Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Sets New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

Shares of Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $176.62 and last traded at $170.06, with a volume of 415625 shares. The stock had previously closed at $162.24.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Craig Hallum started coverage on Centrus Energy in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. They issued a “buy” rating and a $129.00 price target for the company. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Wednesday, May 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $145.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Centrus Energy in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $160.00 price target on the stock. William Blair assumed coverage on Centrus Energy in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. They set an “outperform” rating on the stock. Finally, HC Wainwright began coverage on Centrus Energy in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. They set a “buy” rating and a $300.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $146.00.

Centrus Energy Stock Up 5.0%

The firm has a market capitalization of $2.90 billion, a PE ratio of 38.63 and a beta of 1.37. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $95.19 and a 200 day simple moving average of $85.23. The company has a current ratio of 2.93, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.08) by $1.68. Centrus Energy had a net margin of 16.56% and a return on equity of 84.09%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned ($0.38) earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 67.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP John M. A. Donelson sold 3,732 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.31, for a total transaction of $359,428.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Kevin J. Harrill sold 1,728 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.00, for a total value of $217,728.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Centrus Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of LEU. Nuveen Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 29,226 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,947,000 after acquiring an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Centrus Energy by 77.4% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 440 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Centrus Energy by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Old West Investment Management LLC now owns 10,147 shares of the company’s stock worth $676,000 after buying an additional 192 shares during the period. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in Centrus Energy by 16.2% during the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,399 shares of the company’s stock worth $93,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its holdings in Centrus Energy by 4.6% during the first quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 4,504 shares of the company’s stock worth $280,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. 49.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Centrus Energy Company Profile

Centrus Energy Corp. supplies nuclear fuel components and services for the nuclear power industry in the United States, Belgium, Japan, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and Technical Solutions. The LEU segment sells separative work units (SWU) components of LEU; natural uranium hexafluoride, uranium concentrates, and uranium conversion; and enriched uranium products to utilities that operate nuclear power plants.