Vermilion Energy (TSE:VET) Trading Down 13.8% on Analyst Downgrade

Vermilion Energy Inc. (TSE:VET) (NYSE:VET)’s share price dropped 13.8% during trading on Friday after CIBC lowered their price target on the stock from C$17.00 to C$14.00. The company traded as low as C$7.83 and last traded at C$8.01. Approximately 1,567,002 shares traded hands 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 brokerages have also recently commented on VET. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$16.00 to C$14.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. ATB Capital decreased their price objective on Vermilion Energy from C$20.00 to C$17.50 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 30th. TD Securities dropped their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$18.00 to C$17.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 20th. Atb Cap Markets lowered shares of Vermilion Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, National Bankshares boosted their price objective on shares of Vermilion Energy from C$18.00 to C$19.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of C$16.75.

Vermilion Energy Price Performance

The company’s 50-day simple moving average is C$11.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$12.95. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.31 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.59, a P/E/G ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.61.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be given a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.16%. This is an increase from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Vermilion Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently -9.03%.

Vermilion Energy Company Profile

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.