Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) Downgraded to Sell by StockNews.com

On Monday, StockNews.com announced that it has downgraded Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating. This decision comes as part of the firm's ongoing analysis of the stock.

Green Plains has been the subject of various assessments from different analysts in recent weeks. For instance, on December 2nd, Stephens upgraded Green Plains to a "hold" rating. Conversely, on October 16th, Truist Financial lowered their target price for Green Plains from $25.00 to $18.00 while still maintaining a "buy" rating for the company. Moreover, BMO Capital Markets revised their price target down from $13.00 to $8.00 and assigned a "market perform" rating. Currently, the stock is rated as "sell" by one analyst, three have rated it as "hold," and five analysts have given it a "buy" rating. According to MarketBeat, Green Plains holds an average rating of "Hold" with an average target price set at $23.31.

Green Plains Stock Performance Overview

In trading on Monday, Green Plains' stock saw a slight decline of $0.09, bringing the share price to $6.51. The trading volume reached approximately 4,141,554 shares, a significant increase compared to its average trading volume of 1,626,502 shares. Financial ratios indicate that the company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.78, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock's performance has seen a considerable range over the past year, with a 52-week low of $6.23 and a high of $24.84. Green Plains now has a market capitalization of $420.87 million and exhibits a price-to-earnings ratio of -17.13.

Recent Earnings Report

On February 7th, Green Plains released its earnings report, revealing a loss of ($0.86) earnings per share (EPS) for the last quarter. This figure fell significantly short of analysts’ expected consensus of ($0.22) by ($0.64). The company reported a negative net margin of 0.79% and a negative return on equity of 4.81%. Notably, the same quarter last year had seen the company report a profit of $0.13 EPS. Analysts forecast that Green Plains will experience an EPS of -1.02 for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors' Actions

In light of recent developments, several large investors have adjusted their shareholdings in Green Plains. Barclays PLC notably increased its stake by 71.5% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 59,564 shares, bringing its total holdings to approximately 142,851 shares valued at around $1,935,000. Meanwhile, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. reported a 16.0% increase in its stake, now owning 1,150,738 shares worth $15,581,000 after purchasing an extra 159,147 shares. Additionally, other institutional changes include Paloma Partners Management Co. acquiring new shares, and Assenagon Asset Management S.A. enhancing their holdings by a striking 1,122.1% in the fourth quarter.

About Green Plains

Green Plains Inc is actively engaged in producing low-carbon fuels both domestically in the U.S. and internationally. The company operates through three primary segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnerships. Within the Ethanol Production segment, Green Plains manufactures not only ethanol but also distillers grains and renewable corn oil, contributing to its standing in the energy sector.

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