Vermilion Energy (TSE:VET) Trading Down 9.5% – Time to Sell?

Vermilion Energy Inc. (TSE:VET) (NYSE:VET) shares traded down 9.5% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$15.29 and last traded at C$15.45. 524,984 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 1,377,368 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$17.08.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. ATB Cormark Capital Markets upgraded Vermilion Energy from a “hold” rating to a “moderate buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from C$16.00 to C$24.00 in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Desjardins boosted their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$13.50 to C$16.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$14.00 to C$15.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$15.00 to C$22.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Finally, National Bank Financial boosted their target price on Vermilion Energy from C$14.50 to C$18.50 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Vermilion Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of C$16.94.

Vermilion Energy Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of C$2.40 billion, a P/E ratio of -3.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 58.60, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.84. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$16.40 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$13.39.

Vermilion Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st were paid a $0.135 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 13th. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. This is an increase from Vermilion Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Vermilion Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently -12.24%.

Insider Transactions at Vermilion Energy

In other news, insider Gerard Schut sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$19.00, for a total value of C$190,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 94,268 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$1,791,092. This represents a 9.59% decrease in their position. Also, insider Yvonne Jeffery sold 6,332 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$19.51, for a total value of C$123,537.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 30,527 shares of the company’s stock, valued at C$595,581.77. The trade was a 17.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 0.16% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.