Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) Shares Down 6.4% – Time to Sell?

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE:LEU) shares fell 6.4% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $169.50 and last traded at $169.8090. Approximately 367,729 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 60% from the average session volume of 913,774 shares. The stock had previously closed at $181.49.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on LEU. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Centrus Energy from $178.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and issued a $300.00 target price on shares of Centrus Energy in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Truist Financial initiated coverage on Centrus Energy in a research note on Monday, July 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $215.00 price target on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price objective on Centrus Energy from $264.00 to $262.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Centrus Energy from $246.00 to $216.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $235.71.

Centrus Energy Trading Down 8.2%

The stock has a market cap of $3.04 billion, a PE ratio of 69.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 20.30 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 4.52 and a current ratio of 5.39. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $175.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $184.25.

Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $1.03. Centrus Energy had a return on equity of 7.06% and a net margin of 10.23%.The company had revenue of $176.10 million during the quarter. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.59 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Centrus Energy Corp. will post 2.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Centrus Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of LEU. Comerica Bank lifted its position in shares of Centrus Energy by 589.5% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 655 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 560 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Centrus Energy by 57.6% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 17,266 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,074,000 after buying an additional 6,312 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in Centrus Energy by 45.6% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 54,315 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,379,000 after buying an additional 17,014 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning acquired a new stake in Centrus Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $435,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Centrus Energy by 12.1% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 8,497 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,556,000 after buying an additional 917 shares during the period. 49.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Centrus Energy

Centrus Energy Corp. (NYSE: LEU) is a U.S.-based supplier of nuclear fuel and related services. The company provides enriched uranium products, including low-enriched uranium (LEU), which is used to fuel commercial nuclear reactors, as well as uranium enrichment and fuel-cycle services for utilities and other customers.

Centrus is also developing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), an advanced nuclear fuel intended for certain next-generation reactors. Through its American Centrifuge technology, the company is working to establish domestic enrichment capacity and support the production of HALEU for advanced reactor and national security applications.

The company traces its roots to the U.S.