Jefferies Financial Group Has Lowered Expectations for United States Steel (NYSE:X) Stock Price

United States Steel (NYSE:X) had its price target decreased by Jefferies Financial Group from $45.00 to $40.00 in a research report released on Monday morning,Benzinga reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a buy rating on the basic materials company’s stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on the stock. Glj Research raised shares of United States Steel from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $38.57 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, September 9th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on United States Steel from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised United States Steel from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the company from $40.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $41.32.

United States Steel Stock Up 8.4 %

Shares of NYSE:X opened at $33.04 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $36.62 and its 200-day moving average is $37.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.67. United States Steel has a 52 week low of $26.92 and a 52 week high of $48.85. The company has a market capitalization of $7.44 billion, a PE ratio of 21.74 and a beta of 1.88.

United States Steel (NYSE:X) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The basic materials company reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $3.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.77 billion. United States Steel had a net margin of 2.41% and a return on equity of 6.01%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.36 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that United States Steel will post 2.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United States Steel Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 11th were given a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.61%. United States Steel’s payout ratio is currently 13.16%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United States Steel

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in United States Steel in the fourth quarter valued at about $222,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of United States Steel by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,326 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 442 shares during the period. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its stake in United States Steel by 27.1% during the 3rd quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 55,904 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,963,000 after purchasing an additional 11,905 shares in the last quarter. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas acquired a new stake in United States Steel during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $883,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in United States Steel in the third quarter valued at approximately $59,000. Institutional investors own 81.92% of the company’s stock.

About United States Steel

United States Steel Corporation produces and sells flat-rolled and tubular steel products primarily in North America and Europe. The company operates through North American Flat-Rolled (Flat-Rolled), Mini Mill, U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular) segments. The Flat-Rolled segment offers slabs, strip mill plates, sheets, and tin mill products, as well as iron ore and coke.