Creative Planning Increases Holdings in Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR)

Creative Planning raised its stake in shares of Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR) by 2.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,126 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 190 shares during the quarter. Creative Planning’s holdings in Spire were worth $480,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Spire in the second quarter worth $31,000. LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Spire in the first quarter worth $35,000. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Spire in the first quarter worth $37,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Spire in the first quarter worth $47,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Spire by 26.8% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 761 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.36% of the company’s stock.

Spire Trading Up 3.6 %

SR opened at $65.09 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $3.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.65, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.52. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $65.52 and its 200-day moving average price is $63.38. Spire Inc. has a one year low of $56.36 and a one year high of $68.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a current ratio of 0.48.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on SR shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered Spire from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $65.50 to $60.50 in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Spire from $70.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Spire from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Spire from $64.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $66.19.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Gerard J. Gorla sold 500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.82, for a total transaction of $32,410.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 7,311 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $473,899.02. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 2.86% of the company’s stock.

About Spire

Spire Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, retail distribution, and sale of natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and other end-users of natural gas in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Gas Utility, Gas Marketing, and Midstream. It is also involved in the marketing of natural gas and related services; and transportation and storage of natural gas.