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

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

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

Hess Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:HES opened at $150.43 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $145.47 and its 200-day moving average price is $140.32. Hess has a 12-month low of $123.79 and a 12-month high of $163.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $46.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.71 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

Hess (NYSE:HES) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.32. Hess had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 26.32%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Hess will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Hess

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. J.Safra Asset Management Corp bought a new stake in shares of Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC purchased a new position in Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Hess in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Rialto Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Hess in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. 88.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.