Swiss National Bank Decreases Stake in AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU)

Swiss National Bank reduced its stake in AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU) by 4.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,006,266 shares of the mining company’s stock after selling 50,561 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in AngloGold Ashanti were worth $19,395,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of AU. Gradient Investments LLC grew its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 187.9% in the 3rd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 3,677 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 2,400 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 132.0% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 4,023 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 2,289 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 75.0% during the third quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 6,342 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 2,717 shares in the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 6.3% during the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 10,784 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $170,000 after purchasing an additional 643 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $254,000. 36.09% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AU has been the topic of several research reports. HSBC lowered AngloGold Ashanti from a “hold” rating to a “reduce” rating in a research report on Friday, April 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on AngloGold Ashanti from $23.00 to $31.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 17th. Finally, StockNews.com raised AngloGold Ashanti from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AngloGold Ashanti currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $24.25.

AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance

AngloGold Ashanti stock opened at $24.05 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $22.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.52. AngloGold Ashanti plc has a 12 month low of $14.91 and a 12 month high of $27.95.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 14th. This is a boost from AngloGold Ashanti’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.03. This represents a dividend yield of 1.1%.

AngloGold Ashanti Profile

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.