Lsb Industries (NYSE:LXU) Shares Up 6.7% – What’s Next?

Lsb Industries Inc. (NYSE:LXU) shares rose 6.7% on Friday . The company traded as high as $10.03 and last traded at $10.39. 15,452 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 97% from the average daily volume of 498,215 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.74.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on LXU. Wall Street Zen upgraded Lsb Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, November 22nd. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and set a $9.75 price objective (up from $9.50) on shares of Lsb Industries in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Lsb Industries in a report on Monday, December 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $11.00 price target (up from $10.00) on shares of Lsb Industries in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Zacks Research cut shares of Lsb Industries from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $10.25.

Lsb Industries Price Performance

The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $9.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89, a current ratio of 2.84 and a quick ratio of 2.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $722.28 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1,004.00 and a beta of 0.74.

Insider Activity at Lsb Industries

In other Lsb Industries news, SVP Kristy Carver sold 19,550 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.99, for a total transaction of $195,304.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 52,613 shares in the company, valued at $525,603.87. This represents a 27.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Barry H. Golsen sold 118,953 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $9.19, for a total value of $1,093,178.07. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 96,773 shares in the company, valued at $889,343.87. The trade was a 55.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 610,823 shares of company stock valued at $5,767,726 in the last 90 days. 4.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lsb Industries

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Lsb Industries during the 2nd quarter worth $2,412,000. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL grew its position in shares of Lsb Industries by 581.8% in the 4th quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL now owns 342,894 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $2,915,000 after purchasing an additional 292,599 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new stake in Lsb Industries during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,694,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in Lsb Industries by 104.8% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 365,601 shares of the conglomerate’s stock worth $2,881,000 after buying an additional 187,108 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Lsb Industries by 301.7% in the fourth quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 205,236 shares of the conglomerate’s stock valued at $1,745,000 after buying an additional 154,150 shares in the last quarter. 73.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Lsb Industries

LSB Industries, Inc (NYSE: LXU) is an Oklahoma City–based manufacturer of chemical products serving the agricultural, industrial and defense markets. The company operates primarily through two segments: Fertilizer Solutions and Commodities Solutions. Through its Fertilizer Solutions segment, LSB produces primary nitrogen products—including anhydrous ammonia and technical-grade ammonium nitrate—that are sold to fertilizer distributors and agricultural retailers across North America. Its Commodities Solutions segment manufactures and sells nitric acid, sodium nitrate and other nitrate-based compounds for industrial applications such as mining, water treatment and specialty chemical production, as well as defense-related formulations used in munitions and pyrotechnics.

Incorporated in 1969, LSB Industries has grown from a single production site to multiple manufacturing facilities strategically located in the central United States.