Ruffer LLP Has $41.56 Million Holdings in AngloGold Ashanti PLC $AU

Ruffer LLP lessened its position in AngloGold Ashanti PLC (NYSE:AU) by 48.5% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 590,963 shares of the mining company’s stock after selling 556,005 shares during the quarter. AngloGold Ashanti comprises 2.3% of Ruffer LLP’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Ruffer LLP’s holdings in AngloGold Ashanti were worth $41,562,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AU. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Optimum Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 30.3% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,023 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 330.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 964 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 740 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti in the second quarter worth $69,000. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on AU shares. Wall Street Zen raised AngloGold Ashanti from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 13th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Scotiabank increased their price target on AngloGold Ashanti from $92.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Roth Mkm boosted their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AngloGold Ashanti currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $95.00.

AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AU opened at $115.72 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $45.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.49 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 2.58. AngloGold Ashanti PLC has a fifty-two week low of $28.02 and a fifty-two week high of $115.81. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $90.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.75.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The mining company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.34 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $2.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.53 billion. AngloGold Ashanti had a net margin of 26.25% and a return on equity of 24.01%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that AngloGold Ashanti PLC will post 3.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th were paid a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. AngloGold Ashanti’s payout ratio is presently 80.18%.

About AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold mining company engaged in the exploration, development, production, processing and sale of gold. Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, the company’s core activities span the full mining value chain from greenfield exploration and mine development through to ore processing and rehabilitation. Gold is the primary commodity produced, with individual operations sometimes yielding other by‑products depending on local geology and processing methods.

The company was formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields, creating a diversified international gold producer.