Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) Upgraded to “Buy” at Loop Capital

Loop Capital upgraded shares of Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has $23.00 price objective on the basic materials company’s stock, down from their previous price objective of $26.00.

A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Compass Minerals International from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Compass Minerals International from $75.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Compass Minerals International from $25.00 to $20.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $33.80.

Compass Minerals International Stock Performance

Shares of Compass Minerals International stock opened at $13.34 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $551.08 million, a PE ratio of -9.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 1.13. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $17.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 3.07. Compass Minerals International has a 1 year low of $11.85 and a 1 year high of $39.78.

Compass Minerals International (NYSE:CMP) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The basic materials company reported $0.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.24 by ($0.19). The company had revenue of $341.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $352.84 million. Compass Minerals International had a negative net margin of 4.97% and a positive return on equity of 4.56%. The business’s revenue was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Compass Minerals International will post 0.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Compass Minerals International Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th were given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 8th. Compass Minerals International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -41.10%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Peoples Bank KS bought a new position in Compass Minerals International in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Compass Minerals International by 156.5% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,239 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 756 shares during the last quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Compass Minerals International in the 3rd quarter worth about $58,000. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. grew its position in Compass Minerals International by 12.9% in the 4th quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 4,235 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $107,000 after purchasing an additional 484 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Compass Minerals International by 117.9% in the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,391 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $111,000 after purchasing an additional 2,376 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.78% of the company’s stock.

Compass Minerals International Company Profile

Compass Minerals International, Inc, provides essential minerals in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Salt and Plant Nutrition. The Salt segment produces, markets, and sells sodium chloride and magnesium chloride, including rock salt, mechanically and solar evaporated salt, and brine and flake magnesium chloride products; and purchases potassium chloride and calcium chloride to sell as finished products or to blend with sodium chloride to produce specialty products.