Vermilion Energy (TSE:VET) Stock Price Down 13.8% Following Analyst Downgrade

Vermilion Energy Inc. (TSE:VET) (NYSE:VET) was down 13.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday after CIBC lowered their price target on the stock from C$17.00 to C$14.00. The stock traded as low as C$7.83 and last traded at C$8.01. Approximately 1,567,002 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 102% from the average daily volume of 776,429 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$9.29.

Several other research firms have also commented on VET. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Vermilion Energy from C$16.00 to C$14.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. TD Securities reduced their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$18.00 to C$17.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 20th. National Bankshares lifted their price target on Vermilion Energy from C$18.00 to C$19.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Vermilion Energy from C$17.00 to C$16.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 30th. Finally, Desjardins lowered Vermilion Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their target price for the company from C$19.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vermilion Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of C$16.75.

Vermilion Energy Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.61, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.40. The firm has a market capitalization of C$1.24 billion, a PE ratio of -1.51, a P/E/G ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.60. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is C$11.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$12.98.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This is an increase from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.49%. Vermilion Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -9.03%.

About Vermilion Energy

Vermilion Energy Inc is an international oil and gas producing company. It engages in full-cycle exploration and production programs that focus on the acquisition, exploration, development, and optimization of producing properties in North America, Europe, and Australia. The majority of Vermilion’s revenue has derived from the production and sale of petroleum and natural gas.