Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) Downgraded to “Neutral” Rating by UBS Group

UBS Group downgraded shares of Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report released on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. UBS Group currently has $7.00 price target on the specialty chemicals company’s stock, down from their prior price target of $20.50.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Stephens upgraded Green Plains to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $12.00 price objective (down from $18.00) on shares of Green Plains in a report on Thursday, February 13th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on Green Plains from $13.00 to $8.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Green Plains from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $20.50.

Green Plains Stock Up 6.3 %

GPRE opened at $5.90 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $8.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.65. Green Plains has a 1-year low of $4.87 and a 1-year high of $24.04. The stock has a market cap of $381.90 million, a PE ratio of -4.34 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49.

Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 7th. The specialty chemicals company reported ($0.86) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.22) by ($0.64). Green Plains had a negative net margin of 3.36% and a negative return on equity of 11.88%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.13 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Green Plains will post -0.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Green Plains

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in Green Plains by 433.3% in the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,344 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 2,717 shares during the last quarter. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Green Plains in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $52,000. Dauntless Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Green Plains during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $54,000. KBC Group NV increased its position in Green Plains by 120.7% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 6,071 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 3,320 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cape Investment Advisory Inc. lifted its stake in Green Plains by 340.6% in the 4th quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 7,050 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 5,450 shares during the last quarter.

About Green Plains

Green Plains Inc produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnership. The Ethanol Production segment produces ethanol, distillers grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil.