Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) Stock Price Down 5.4% – Here’s What Happened

Shares of Central Puerto S.A. (NYSE:CEPU) were down 5.4% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $12.77 and last traded at $12.78. Approximately 212,617 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 56% from the average daily volume of 479,556 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.51.

Central Puerto Trading Down 1.5 %

The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $14.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.97. The firm has a market cap of $2.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.22 and a beta of 1.21.

Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 11th. The company reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.39 by ($0.19). The company had revenue of $185.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $200.26 million. Central Puerto had a return on equity of 22.76% and a net margin of 56.44%. As a group, research analysts expect that Central Puerto S.A. will post 0.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Central Puerto Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a — dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Investors of record on Friday, November 29th were issued a $0.3954 dividend. This is a boost from Central Puerto’s previous — dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 29th. This represents a yield of 1.4%. Central Puerto’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.16%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CEPU. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Central Puerto during the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Central Puerto by 62.4% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,694 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 1,420 shares during the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Central Puerto during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $121,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Central Puerto in the 3rd quarter valued at $122,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Central Puerto in the 3rd quarter valued at $157,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.97% of the company’s stock.

About Central Puerto

Central Puerto SA engages in the electric power generation in Argentina. It operates through three segments: Electric Power Generation from Conventional Sources, Electric Power Generation from Renewable Sources, and Natural Gas Transport and Distribution. The company generates energy through thermal, hydroelectric, and wind farms.