VAALCO Energy (NYSE:EGY) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Buy” Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of VAALCO Energy (NYSE:EGY) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Friday morning.

VAALCO Energy Stock Performance

NYSE:EGY opened at $4.34 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. VAALCO Energy has a fifty-two week low of $3.57 and a fifty-two week high of $7.51. The stock has a market cap of $455.59 million, a PE ratio of 5.10 and a beta of 1.16. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $4.23 and its 200-day simple moving average is $5.01.

VAALCO Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.0625 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.77%. VAALCO Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.41%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On VAALCO Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in EGY. Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in VAALCO Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $226,000. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new stake in VAALCO Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $141,000. GTS Securities LLC grew its stake in VAALCO Energy by 49.1% in the 4th quarter. GTS Securities LLC now owns 19,268 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 6,343 shares during the last quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new stake in VAALCO Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $497,000. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC grew its stake in VAALCO Energy by 49.0% in the 4th quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 29,339 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $128,000 after acquiring an additional 9,654 shares during the last quarter. 50.32% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About VAALCO Energy

VAALCO Energy, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Gabon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, and Canada. The company holds 58.8% interest in the Etame production sharing contract related to the Etame Marin block covering an area of approximately 46,200 gross acres located offshore in the Republic of Gabon in West Africa.