Vermilion Energy (TSE:VET) Trading 7.6% Higher – Time to Buy?

Shares of Vermilion Energy Inc. (TSE:VET) (NYSE:VET) were up 7.6% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as C$18.68 and last traded at C$18.65. Approximately 929,585 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 1,299,798 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$17.34.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Vermilion Energy from C$12.00 to C$13.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. National Bank Financial increased their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$14.50 to C$18.50 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Desjardins raised their price target on Vermilion Energy from C$13.50 to C$16.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. ATB Cormark Capital Markets boosted their price target on Vermilion Energy from C$14.00 to C$16.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, TD Securities downgraded Vermilion Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and upped their price objective for the company from C$14.00 to C$16.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$14.94.

Vermilion Energy Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of C$13.97 and a 200 day moving average of C$12.23. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -12.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 58.60.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.135 per share. This is an increase from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 13th. Vermilion Energy’s payout ratio is -33.55%.

Vermilion Energy Company Profile

Vermilion Energy Inc is an international oil and gas producing company. It engages in full-cycle exploration and production programs that focus on the acquisition, exploration, development, and optimization of producing properties in North America, Europe, and Australia. The majority of Vermilion’s revenue has derived from the production and sale of petroleum and natural gas. In each market, the company relies on a host of drilling and well completion techniques to keep production at attractive levels.