Birchcliff Energy (TSE:BIR) Upgraded to “Strong-Buy” at National Bank Financial

National Bank Financial upgraded shares of Birchcliff Energy (TSE:BIR) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other equities analysts have also issued reports on the stock. CIBC raised their target price on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$5.75 to C$6.00 in a research report on Friday, January 17th. TD Securities lowered their price objective on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$5.50 to C$5.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their target price on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$6.00 to C$5.75 in a report on Friday, November 15th. National Bankshares decreased their target price on shares of Birchcliff Energy from C$6.50 to C$6.00 in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Birchcliff Energy from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of C$6.25.

Birchcliff Energy Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of TSE BIR opened at C$6.10 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of C$5.34 and a 200 day moving average price of C$5.61. The stock has a market cap of C$1.64 billion, a PE ratio of 38.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 22.26. Birchcliff Energy has a 52-week low of C$4.53 and a 52-week high of C$6.54.

Birchcliff Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 13th. Birchcliff Energy’s payout ratio is 250.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Birchcliff Energy

In other Birchcliff Energy news, Director Aaron Jeffery Tonken sold 200,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$5.53, for a total value of C$1,106,000.00. Also, Senior Officer Hue Tran sold 28,600 shares of Birchcliff Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$5.10, for a total transaction of C$145,860.00. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 260,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,409,488. 1.55% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Birchcliff Energy Company Profile

Birchcliff Energy Ltd is an intermediate oil and gas company that explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, light oil, and natural gas liquids. The company conducts its drilling program in resource plays located in the Peace River Arch region of Alberta. Birchcliff focuses on operating nearly all its high working production, which is surrounded by blocks of high working interest lands where it owns and/or controls the infrastructure.