Vermilion Energy Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:VET)

Vermilion Energy Inc. (NYSE:VET) (TSE:VET) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock investors acquired 4,027 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 117% compared to the average daily volume of 1,860 call options.

Vermilion Energy Stock Performance

Vermilion Energy stock opened at $5.42 on Wednesday. Vermilion Energy has a fifty-two week low of $5.35 and a fifty-two week high of $12.78. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $8.23 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The company has a market cap of $837.79 million, a P/E ratio of -1.45 and a beta of 1.43.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.0903 per share. This is an increase from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.09. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Vermilion Energy’s payout ratio is -163.64%.

Institutional Trading of Vermilion Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of VET. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA raised its position in Vermilion Energy by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 27,221 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $256,000 after buying an additional 1,179 shares during the period. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Vermilion Energy by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 108,088 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,015,000 after acquiring an additional 2,046 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vermilion Energy by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 80,484 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $765,000 after purchasing an additional 3,668 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vermilion Energy by 1,123.6% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 4,356 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Vermilion Energy by 10.5% in the fourth quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 49,257 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $463,000 after purchasing an additional 4,676 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.91% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VET has been the topic of several research reports. Desjardins cut Vermilion Energy from a “moderate buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. StockNews.com lowered Vermilion Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, March 15th. Finally, Atb Cap Markets downgraded Vermilion Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th.

Vermilion Energy Company Profile

Vermilion Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of petroleum and natural gas. The company has properties in West Central Alberta, southeast Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and West Pembina in Canada; Wyoming in the United States; southwest Bordeaux and Paris Basin in France; the Netherlands; Germany; Ireland; Croatia; Slovakia; and Australia.