Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) Shares Down 6.1% on Disappointing Earnings

The Mosaic Company (NYSE:MOS) traded down 6.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as low as $26.52 and last traded at $26.7410. 8,790,638 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 29% from the average session volume of 6,799,851 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.49.

The basic materials company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.02 billion. Mosaic had a return on equity of 5.77% and a net margin of 4.49%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.45 earnings per share.

Mosaic Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 9th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 9th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Mosaic’s payout ratio is 22.80%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on MOS shares. HSBC dropped their price target on shares of Mosaic from $35.00 to $26.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 24th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Mosaic from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Mosaic from $26.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 5th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reduced their price target on Mosaic from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on Mosaic from $35.00 to $31.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eleven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $31.50.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mosaic

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in MOS. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in Mosaic in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,969,000. Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Mosaic in the third quarter valued at $2,913,000. Scotia Capital Inc. increased its stake in shares of Mosaic by 395.1% in the second quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 87,556 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,194,000 after buying an additional 69,873 shares in the last quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. raised its holdings in shares of Mosaic by 65.7% in the second quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 157,267 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $5,682,000 after buying an additional 62,338 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC acquired a new position in Mosaic during the 3rd quarter worth about $12,678,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.54% of the company’s stock.

Mosaic Trading Down 5.4%

The company’s 50-day moving average is $27.07 and its 200-day moving average is $28.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $8.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.97.

Mosaic Company Profile

Mosaic Co is one of the world’s leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. The company’s primary business activities center on the extraction, processing and distribution of phosphate rock, phosphate-based fertilizers and potash products. These core nutrients are essential components in modern agriculture, supporting crop yields and soil health across a range of farming applications.

In its phosphate segment, Mosaic operates mining and production facilities that convert phosphate rock into concentrated phosphates, finished phosphate fertilizers and feed phosphates for animal nutrition.