UGI (NYSE:UGI) Stock Price Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI)’s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $36.06 and traded as high as $36.80. UGI shares last traded at $36.7330, with a volume of 2,051,682 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on UGI. UBS Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of UGI in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of UGI from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, November 22nd. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of UGI from $41.00 to $44.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of UGI in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of UGI from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, UGI currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $44.50.

UGI Trading Up 2.5%

The company has a market capitalization of $7.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.71 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $37.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.07.

UGI (NYSE:UGI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.24). The business had revenue of $2.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.49 billion. UGI had a return on equity of 14.46% and a net margin of 8.17%.The business’s revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.37 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that UGI Corporation will post 3.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

UGI Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be issued a $0.375 dividend. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. UGI’s dividend payout ratio is 55.35%.

Insider Buying and Selling at UGI

In related news, insider Joseph L. Hartz sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.45, for a total value of $192,250.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 33,492 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,287,767.40. The trade was a 12.99% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Jean Felix Tematio sold 12,840 shares of UGI stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.07, for a total value of $488,818.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 6,952 shares in the company, valued at $264,662.64. This represents a 64.87% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.57% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UGI

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in UGI in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its stake in shares of UGI by 103.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 1,345 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 685 shares during the period. Torren Management LLC bought a new position in shares of UGI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $65,000. Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new position in shares of UGI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $75,000. Finally, Horizon Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of UGI during the 4th quarter worth approximately $93,000. 82.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

UGI Company Profile

UGI Corporation (NYSE: UGI) is a publicly traded energy distribution company headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1882 as the United Gas Improvement Company, UGI has grown into a diversified provider of energy products and services. The company’s operations are organized into three primary segments—AmeriGas Propane, UGI Utilities and UGI International—each focused on the delivery of propane, natural gas and related services to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

AmeriGas Propane, UGI’s largest segment, is the leading retail propane distributor in the United States with a network of dealers serving customers in all 50 states.