Dorian LPG (NYSE:LPG) Sets New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

Dorian LPG Ltd. (NYSE:LPG)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $40.98 and last traded at $40.2010, with a volume of 10061 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $39.81.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on LPG shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Dorian LPG from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, February 22nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Dorian LPG in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Dnb Carnegie cut shares of Dorian LPG from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Dorian LPG in a research note on Friday, April 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $42.00.

Dorian LPG Stock Up 0.0%

The stock has a market cap of $1.72 billion, a PE ratio of 14.15 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a current ratio of 2.41. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $35.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $30.24.

Dorian LPG (NYSE:LPG) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The shipping company reported $1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $119.96 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $115.15 million. Dorian LPG had a return on equity of 11.82% and a net margin of 29.88%.The company’s revenue was up 48.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share.

Dorian LPG Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 28th. Investors of record on Monday, May 18th will be issued a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 18th. Dorian LPG’s dividend payout ratio is currently 35.21%.

Insider Transactions at Dorian LPG

In related news, CFO Theodore B. Young sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.84, for a total value of $348,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 122,926 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,282,741.84. This represents a 7.52% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 13.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Dorian LPG

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LPG. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Dorian LPG by 236.7% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 425,478 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $10,373,000 after acquiring an additional 299,107 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Dorian LPG by 136.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 368,986 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $8,996,000 after acquiring an additional 212,787 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Dorian LPG by 12.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,874,907 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $45,635,000 after acquiring an additional 207,575 shares in the last quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL increased its holdings in Dorian LPG by 425.4% in the 3rd quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL now owns 256,216 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $7,635,000 after acquiring an additional 207,450 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Dorian LPG by 55.8% in the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 572,315 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $17,055,000 after acquiring an additional 204,861 shares in the last quarter. 62.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Dorian LPG Company Profile

Dorian LPG Ltd., incorporated in Bermuda and headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a leading owner and operator of modern very large gas carriers (VLGCs). The company specializes in the maritime transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), primarily propane and butane, for energy producers, commodity traders and trading houses around the world.

Dorian LPG’s fleet comprises over 30 state-of-the-art VLGCs, each designed for fuel efficiency and environmental performance. These vessels operate under medium- and long-term time charter agreements, providing predictable employment and supporting a stable charter revenue profile through contracts with major international energy companies.

The company serves global energy markets by transporting LPG cargoes along major trade routes linking production centers in the Middle East, U.S.