Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) Director Paul D. Koonce Buys 1,000 Shares of Stock

Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) Director Paul D. Koonce bought 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $73.61 per share, for a total transaction of $73,610.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,425 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $178,504.25. This trade represents a 70.18 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Spire Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of SR opened at $72.40 on Tuesday. Spire Inc. has a 52-week low of $56.36 and a 52-week high of $73.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $64.33. The company has a market capitalization of $4.18 billion, a PE ratio of 16.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 0.52.

Spire Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 3rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 11th will be given a dividend of $3.14 per share. This is a boost from Spire’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. This represents a $12.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 17.35%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 11th. Spire’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 72.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Spire from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Mizuho lifted their price target on Spire from $62.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Spire from $70.00 to $69.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. StockNews.com cut shares of Spire from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Spire from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $69.93.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Spire

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SR. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Spire during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Spire during the second quarter worth $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its position in Spire by 1,318.4% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 539 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 501 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Spire by 26.8% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 761 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Missouri Trust & Investment Co grew its holdings in shares of Spire by 28.6% during the 3rd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 900 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. 87.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Spire Company Profile

Spire Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, retail distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and other end-users of natural gas in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream. It is also involved in the marketing of natural gas and related services; and transportation and storage of natural gas.