StockNews.com Upgrades Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) to “Hold”

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Compass Minerals International from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Compass Minerals International from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $13.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Wednesday.

Compass Minerals International Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CMP opened at $11.44 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $12.26 and its 200 day moving average is $11.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.87, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 2.71. The company has a market capitalization of $474.42 million, a P/E ratio of -2.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.21. Compass Minerals International has a fifty-two week low of $7.51 and a fifty-two week high of $23.59.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 10th. The basic materials company reported ($0.55) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.05) by ($0.50). Compass Minerals International had a negative return on equity of 2.15% and a negative net margin of 19.24%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Compass Minerals International will post 0.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Compass Minerals International

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new position in Compass Minerals International during the fourth quarter worth approximately $268,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Compass Minerals International by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 785,676 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $8,842,000 after acquiring an additional 2,865 shares during the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in shares of Compass Minerals International in the fourth quarter valued at $80,000. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of Compass Minerals International by 77.8% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 154,773 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,741,000 after buying an additional 67,725 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Koss Olinger Consulting LLC acquired a new position in Compass Minerals International during the 4th quarter worth $263,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.78% of the company’s stock.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.