ENI (NYSE:E) Hits New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Eni SpA (NYSE:E – Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday. The company traded as high as $61.25 and last traded at $61.2320, with a volume of 25,669 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $59.53.

Key Headlines Impacting ENI

Here are the key news stories impacting ENI this week:

  • Positive Sentiment: Strong earnings beat: Eni reported quarterly earnings of $2.25 per share, well above the $1.87 consensus estimate. Revenue reached $29.49 billion versus expectations of $25.89 billion, while profit reportedly more than doubled year over year, helped by strong refining margins. Eni earnings press release Italian energy giant Eni sees profits soar
  • Positive Sentiment: Larger shareholder returns: Eni announced an extraordinary dividend and an increase in its share-buyback program after generating approximately €6.4 billion in nine-month profit. Higher payouts make the stock more attractive to income-focused investors and signal confidence in cash-flow generation. Eni to pay special dividend and lift buyback Eni raises investor payouts
  • Positive Sentiment: Potential asset monetization: ADNOC’s XRG is reportedly discussing the purchase of a stake in Eni’s Libya oil-and-gas business. A transaction could provide cash and validate the value of Eni’s upstream portfolio, although terms have not been finalized. ADNOC XRG talks to buy stake in Eni Libya business
  • Neutral Sentiment: Eni also began start-up activities for the second phase of the Meleiha gas project in Egypt and discussed possible overseas projects with SOCAR, adding longer-term growth opportunities but with limited immediate earnings impact. Eni initiates Meleiha phase two

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on E. Zacks Research cut shares of ENI from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 13th. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on ENI from $51.00 to $59.50 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, August 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of ENI in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Barclays reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of ENI in a research note on Monday, October 5th. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded ENI from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have assigned a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $58.45.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on E

ENI Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.23. The stock has a market cap of $103.97 billion, a PE ratio of 15.74, a P/E/G ratio of 0.22 and a beta of 0.44. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $55.56 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.60.

ENI (NYSE:E – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Saturday, October 24th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $2.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.38. ENI had a net margin of 6.51% and a return on equity of 11.27%. The company had revenue of $29.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.89 billion. Research analysts expect that Eni SpA will post 6.50 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ENI Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 24th will be given a $0.6335 dividend. This represents a $2.53 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.1%. This is an increase from ENI’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.6276. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 24th. ENI’s payout ratio is presently 42.97%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Inspire Investing LLC grew its position in ENI by 29.9% in the third quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 7,723 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock worth $419,000 after acquiring an additional 1,778 shares in the last quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of ENI by 13.6% in the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 42,098 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock valued at $2,418,000 after purchasing an additional 5,032 shares in the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of ENI in the 3rd quarter valued at $4,222,000. B.A. Schrock Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in ENI in the 3rd quarter worth $206,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in ENI by 9.7% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 10,495 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 932 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 1.18% of the company’s stock.

About ENI

(Get Free Report)

Eni S.p.A. is an integrated energy company headquartered in Rome, Italy. Founded in 1953, the company operates across the energy value chain, with activities spanning exploration and production, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, refining, chemicals, and energy-related services.

Eni explores for and produces oil and natural gas in several regions, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. Through its downstream businesses, the company processes and markets fuels, develops chemical products, and supplies natural gas and electricity.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for ENI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ENI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.