BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) Short Interest Up 5.6% in January

BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 10,570,000 shares, an increase of 5.6% from the January 15th total of 10,010,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,310,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.6 days.

Institutional Trading of BHP Group

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Strategic Global Advisors LLC lifted its position in BHP Group by 55.5% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Global Advisors LLC now owns 27,497 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $1,343,000 after purchasing an additional 9,812 shares during the last quarter. Riverview Capital Advisers LLC bought a new stake in BHP Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,110,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in BHP Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $801,000. Malaga Cove Capital LLC lifted its position in BHP Group by 54.1% in the 4th quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC now owns 14,790 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $722,000 after purchasing an additional 5,193 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC acquired a new position in BHP Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $417,000. 3.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

BHP Group Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:BHP opened at $51.93 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $49.89 and its 200 day moving average price is $53.19. BHP Group has a fifty-two week low of $48.06 and a fifty-two week high of $63.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on BHP. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of BHP Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of BHP Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $53.00.

About BHP Group

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.