Hess (NYSE:HES) Now Covered by Analysts at StockNews.com

Equities research analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Hess (NYSE:HES) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the oil and gas producer’s stock.

A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on HES. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Hess from $145.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Hess from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $151.00 to $193.00 in a report on Monday, December 9th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Hess from $185.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Pickering Energy Partners raised shares of Hess to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $170.60.

Hess Stock Down 2.0 %

Shares of NYSE:HES opened at $147.96 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $140.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $139.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Hess has a one year low of $123.79 and a one year high of $163.98. The company has a market cap of $45.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.44 and a beta of 1.17.

Hess (NYSE:HES) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.32. Hess had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 26.32%. Analysts anticipate that Hess will post 8.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hess

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC increased its position in shares of Hess by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 2,154 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $287,000 after buying an additional 72 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in Hess by 1.9% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 3,971 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $528,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Hess by 2.4% in the third quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,266 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Hess by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,682 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Howard Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Hess by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Howard Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,809 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $241,000 after buying an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.51% of the company’s stock.

Hess Company Profile

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.