Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP) Rating Increased to Buy at StockNews.com

Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP) was upgraded by stock analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.

Separately, Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $29.00 target price (up previously from $27.00) on shares of Alliance Resource Partners in a report on Tuesday, February 4th.

Alliance Resource Partners Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ARLP opened at $27.14 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $26.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 2.36 and a quick ratio of 1.69. Alliance Resource Partners has a 1 year low of $21.00 and a 1 year high of $30.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.83 and a beta of 0.62.

Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ:ARLP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 3rd. The energy company reported $0.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.38). Alliance Resource Partners had a net margin of 14.74% and a return on equity of 19.09%. As a group, research analysts predict that Alliance Resource Partners will post 2.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Alliance Resource Partners news, SVP Timothy J. Whelan sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.13, for a total value of $1,256,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 93,850 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,358,450.50. This trade represents a 34.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 16.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Alliance Resource Partners during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Alliance Resource Partners by 321.3% during the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 969 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 739 shares during the period. USA Financial Formulas bought a new stake in shares of Alliance Resource Partners in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Summit Securities Group LLC increased its holdings in Alliance Resource Partners by 350.0% in the fourth quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 1,800 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in Alliance Resource Partners by 223.5% during the 4th quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,406 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $90,000 after purchasing an additional 2,353 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.11% of the company’s stock.

Alliance Resource Partners Company Profile

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a diversified natural resource company, produces and markets coal primarily to utilities and industrial users in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Illinois Basin Coal Operations, Appalachia Coal Operations, Oil & Gas Royalties, and Coal Royalties.