Marine Petroleum Trust (NASDAQ:MARPS) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Marine Petroleum Trust (NASDAQ:MARPS) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,192 shares, an increase of 84.4% from the August 31st total of 1,731 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,293 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Marine Petroleum Trust stock. Welch Group LLC bought a new position in Marine Petroleum Trust (NASDAQ:MARPS) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 15,956 shares of the energy company’s stock, valued at approximately $85,000. Welch Group LLC owned 0.80% of Marine Petroleum Trust at the end of the most recent quarter. 1.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Marine Petroleum Trust Price Performance

Marine Petroleum Trust stock opened at $4.24 on Thursday. Marine Petroleum Trust has a one year low of $4.05 and a one year high of $6.49. The business’s fifty day moving average is $4.61 and its 200 day moving average is $4.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.48 million, a PE ratio of 12.47 and a beta of 0.38.

Marine Petroleum Trust (NASDAQ:MARPS) last issued its earnings results on Friday, September 25th. The energy company reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $0.26 million during the quarter. Marine Petroleum Trust had a return on equity of 69.15% and a net margin of 67.00%.

Marine Petroleum Trust Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st were issued a dividend of $0.0954 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 31st. This is a negative change from Marine Petroleum Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.0965. This represents a $0.38 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.0%. Marine Petroleum Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently 111.76%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Marine Petroleum Trust from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Marine Petroleum Trust has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

About Marine Petroleum Trust

Marine Petroleum Trust (NASDAQ: MARPS) is a grantor trust that holds royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties. Rather than operating wells or selling energy products directly, the trust receives royalty payments based on production from the properties in which it has interests.

The trust’s interests are primarily associated with offshore oil and gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico, particularly areas off the coast of Louisiana. Its cash distributions are therefore tied to production volumes, commodity prices, operating activity by the property operators and the remaining economic life of the underlying reserves.

Marine Petroleum Trust was established in 1955 and is managed under the terms of its trust agreement.