The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS - Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock investors acquired 15,614 call options on the company. This is an increase of 77% compared to the average volume of 8,822 call options.
NYSE MOS traded up $0.99 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $28.05. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,489,171 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,633,420. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.34. Mosaic has a 1-year low of $23.56 and a 1-year high of $33.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.49. The company's 50-day moving average is $26.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.69.
Mosaic (NYSE:MOS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 12th. The basic materials company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.58 by ($0.24). Mosaic had a return on equity of 6.00% and a net margin of 3.24%. The firm had revenue of $2.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.17 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. Mosaic's quarterly revenue was down 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Mosaic will post 2.04 EPS for the current year.
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 6th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 6th. This is a positive change from Mosaic's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.14%. Mosaic's dividend payout ratio is 74.34%.
Several research firms have recently weighed in on MOS. Mizuho increased their price target on Mosaic from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. CIBC began coverage on Mosaic in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $55.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Mosaic from $40.00 to $30.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays cut Mosaic from an "overweight" rating to an "underweight" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $30.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer initiated coverage on Mosaic in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a "market perform" rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mosaic presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $33.80.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Mosaic
Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in Mosaic by 1.5% during the third quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 23,345 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $625,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC lifted its stake in Mosaic by 23.2% during the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 2,037 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 384 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in Mosaic by 5.1% during the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 8,764 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $235,000 after purchasing an additional 426 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in Mosaic by 5.8% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 9,498 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $254,000 after purchasing an additional 517 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Mosaic by 46.4% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,799 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. 77.54% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
The Mosaic Company, through its subsidiaries, produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes. It owns and operates mines, which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients, such as diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ammoniated phosphate products; and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients primarily under the Biofos and Nexfos brand names, as well as produces a double sulfate of potash magnesia product under K-Mag brand name.
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