Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE:BBU) Short Interest Drops Significantly in February

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. (NYSE:BBU) experienced a notable decrease in short interest during February. As of February 15th, the total short interest stood at 19,800 shares, representing a decline of 37.7% from the previous total of 31,800 shares reported on January 31st. Currently, only 0.0% of the company's shares are sold short. With an average daily trading volume of 18,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Analyst Ratings and Insights

Several equity analysts have recently published their assessments on Brookfield Business Partners. On February 3rd, the Royal Bank of Canada adjusted its price target for the stock from $32.00 to $30.00 while maintaining an "outperform" rating. Scotiabank also reiterated an "outperform" rating on the same date. In contrast, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target for Brookfield from $32.00 to $34.00 in a report dated January 10th, while giving the stock an "outperform" rating. Currently, three analysts have rated the stock as a buy, and one has assigned a strong buy rating. Data from MarketBeat.com indicates that the stock has a consensus rating of "Buy" with an average target price of $32.33.

Stock Performance of Brookfield Business Partners

During midday trading on Friday, Brookfield Business Partners shares rose by $0.24, reaching a price of $24.90, with 18,514 shares changing hands, surpassing the average volume of 17,482 shares. The company's stock has seen a one-year low of $16.85 and a high of $26.75. With a market capitalization of $1.85 billion, the stock's price-to-earnings ratio stands at -50.81 and has a beta of 1.50. Financial metrics show a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 0.39, and a current ratio of 0.50. Its 50-day moving average is $23.01, while the 200-day moving average is $22.93.

Brookfield Business Partners recently announced its quarterly earnings on January 31st, reporting an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.47, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $1.33. The company reported a net margin of 2.20% and a return on equity of 5.09%. Analysts predict that Brookfield will post an EPS of 5.25 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Update from Brookfield Business Partners

The firm also revealed a quarterly dividend, scheduled for distribution on March 31st. Shareholders on record as of February 28th will receive a dividend of $0.0625. This translates to an annualized dividend of $0.25 with a yield of 1.00%. The ex-dividend date is set for February 28th. Brookfield's dividend payout ratio currently stands at -51.02%.

Institutional Investment Activity

Recent changes in institutional investor holdings for Brookfield Business Partners have been notable. Intact Investment Management Inc. invested in the firm during the third quarter, acquiring a stake valued at about $45,000. BBR Partners LLC made a new investment in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $241,000. Additionally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake by 8.9% during the fourth quarter, bringing its total to 17,724 shares worth around $415,000 after acquiring an additional 1,448 shares. Other notable investors include Gold Investment Management Ltd. and The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company, which also increased their stakes. Overall, hedge funds and institutional investors own approximately 85.04% of Brookfield's stock.

Profile of Brookfield Business Partners

Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm that focuses on acquisitions. The company primarily invests in various sectors, including business services, infrastructure services, construction, energy, and industrials. Brookfield tends to seek majority stakes in its investments, aiming for returns of at least 15%.

Investing Considerations

For potential investors, it is essential to keep an eye on the stock's performance and analyst ratings. Current trends indicate various opportunities within the market. Therefore, reviewing reliable sources and analyses can be beneficial for investment decisions.

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