Star Group Stock Rating Upgraded to Strong-Buy

Star Group (NYSE:SGU) recently received an upgrade from StockNews.com, which moved their rating from a "buy" to a "strong-buy" in a report released on Friday.

Star Group Price Performance

During midday trading on Friday, shares of Star Group dropped by $0.19, reaching a price of $12.24. A total of 11,747 shares changed hands, which is below the company's average trading volume of 33,494 shares. Financial metrics for Star Group include a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.64, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company's market capitalization stands at $423.26 million, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.47 and a beta of 0.48. Over the past year, the stock hit a low of $9.64 and a high of $12.99, while the 50-day simple moving average is currently at $11.70 and the 200-day average sits at $11.66.

Recent Earnings Data

Star Group released its quarterly earnings report on February 5th, where it announced earnings per share (EPS) of $0.79 for the quarter. The company reported a net margin of 1.99% and a return on equity of 12.01%, indicating a steady performance.

Institutional Ownership Trends

Several institutional investors have recently adjusted their stakes in Star Group. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings by 12.0% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 66,806 shares and totaling 622,573 shares valued at approximately $7.31 million. Victory Capital Management Inc. also stepped in to purchase a new position valued at about $566,000. Additionally, GSA Capital Partners LLP increased its stake by 89.4%, acquiring 10,799 more shares for a total of 22,884 shares worth $269,000. Other institutions like Roxbury Financial LLC and Jones Financial Companies Lllp have also made new investments, bringing the total institutional ownership to around 40.36%.

About Star Group

Star Group, L.P., along with its subsidiaries, provides heating oil and propane services to both residential and commercial customers across the United States. The company also offers gasoline and diesel fuel and is involved in the installation, maintenance, and repair of heating and air conditioning systems. As of September 30, 2023, Star Group served about 402,200 full-service residential and commercial oil and propane customers, alongside 52,400 delivery-only customers.

Investment Considerations

Before making any investment decisions regarding Star Group, it's important to weigh the latest upgrades and changes in analyst opinions. Market analysts noted that, while Star Group has gained traction, there are alternative stocks currently favored by investors, which may yield better returns.

StarGroup, Rating, Upgrade