Benchmark Reiterates “Buy” Rating for SunCoke Energy (NYSE:SXC)

Benchmark reiterated their buy rating on shares of SunCoke Energy (NYSE:SXC) in a report published on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. Benchmark currently has a $12.00 target price on the energy company’s stock.

Separately, StockNews.com raised SunCoke Energy from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th.

SunCoke Energy Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of SunCoke Energy stock traded up $0.05 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $10.36. The company had a trading volume of 179,771 shares, compared to its average volume of 815,036. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $10.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 2.06 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market cap of $870.97 million, a PE ratio of 14.52 and a beta of 1.19. SunCoke Energy has a fifty-two week low of $6.71 and a fifty-two week high of $11.48.

SunCoke Energy (NYSE:SXC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The energy company reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.22 by $0.01. SunCoke Energy had a return on equity of 9.48% and a net margin of 2.97%. The company had revenue of $488.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $549.40 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.19 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that SunCoke Energy will post 0.86 earnings per share for the current year.

SunCoke Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 3rd. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 14th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.86%. SunCoke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other SunCoke Energy news, CEO Michael G. Rippey sold 48,618 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.93, for a total value of $531,394.74. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 763,409 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,344,060.37. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Michael G. Rippey sold 78,714 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.06, for a total transaction of $870,576.84. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 342,359 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,786,490.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Michael G. Rippey sold 48,618 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.93, for a total value of $531,394.74. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 763,409 shares in the company, valued at $8,344,060.37. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 251,572 shares of company stock worth $2,781,834 in the last ninety days. 1.73% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SunCoke Energy

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its holdings in SunCoke Energy by 19.7% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 115,571 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,302,000 after buying an additional 19,020 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its holdings in shares of SunCoke Energy by 130.5% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 114,779 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $1,294,000 after purchasing an additional 64,978 shares in the last quarter. Vest Financial LLC purchased a new position in SunCoke Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $872,000. Cornerstone Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in SunCoke Energy in the first quarter worth approximately $174,000. Finally, New York State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of SunCoke Energy by 9.9% in the first quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 57,945 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $653,000 after acquiring an additional 5,210 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.45% of the company’s stock.

SunCoke Energy Company Profile

SunCoke Energy, Inc operates as an independent producer of coke in the Americas and Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Domestic Coke, Brazil Coke, and Logistics. It offers metallurgical and thermal coal. The company also provides handling and/or mixing services to steel, coke, electric utility, coal producing, and other manufacturing based customers.