Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totaling 600,607 shares, a growth of 80.7% from the September 15th total of 332,377 shares. Approximately 0.4% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 294,017 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Central Puerto from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 17th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Central Puerto in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Central Puerto from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, September 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $22.75.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tidal Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Central Puerto in the 2nd quarter worth about $159,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Central Puerto by 285.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 132,818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,235,000 after acquiring an additional 98,380 shares in the last quarter. Absolute Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. purchased a new position in Central Puerto during the 1st quarter valued at about $4,814,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new position in Central Puerto during the first quarter worth about $271,000. Finally, Walleye Capital LLC acquired a new position in Central Puerto during the first quarter worth about $1,349,000. 2.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Central Puerto Stock Performance

Central Puerto stock traded down $0.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $12.91. 216,943 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 276,481. Central Puerto has a twelve month low of $8.57 and a twelve month high of $18.50. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $13.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market cap of $1.95 billion, a PE ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.85.

Central Puerto Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a special dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 28th were paid a $1.0758 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 28th. Central Puerto’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 30.00%.

Central Puerto Company Profile

Central Puerto SA (NYSE: CEPU) is an Argentine electric power generation company. Its principal business is the development, ownership, operation and maintenance of power generation facilities that supply electricity to Argentina’s wholesale electricity market and other customers under applicable market and contractual arrangements.

The company’s generation portfolio includes conventional thermal power plants, hydroelectric facilities and renewable energy projects. Its operations use technologies such as natural-gas-fired and other thermal generation, hydroelectric power, and wind energy, giving Central Puerto exposure to multiple segments of Argentina’s electricity industry.

Central Puerto was formed during the restructuring and privatization of Argentina’s electricity sector and has expanded its portfolio through acquisitions, new construction and investments in generation capacity.