Keating Investment Counselors Inc. Increases Stake in Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR)

Keating Investment Counselors Inc. has increased its stake in Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) by 23.9% during the fourth quarter, as revealed in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Following this acquisition, the firm now owns a total of 80,503 shares, having purchased an additional 15,533 shares during this period. Nutrien currently represents 1.1% of Keating Investment Counselors Inc.'s overall portfolio, making it the firm's 22nd largest holding. As per the most recent SEC filing, the value of Keating's holdings in Nutrien stands at approximately $3,603,000.

Supporting Investor Activity

In addition to Keating Investment Counselors Inc., several other institutional investors have also adjusted their positions in Nutrien recently. For instance, CWM LLC raised its stake in the company by 30.6% in the third quarter, bringing its total ownership to 7,738 shares valued at $372,000 after acquiring 1,815 additional shares. Similarly, Creative Planning increased its holdings by 1.3%, now owning 36,524 shares worth $1,755,000 after adding 473 shares. Vontobel Holding Ltd. also boosted its position by 14.8%, owning 23,087 shares with a value of $1,109,000 after buying another 2,979 shares. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. notably raised its holdings by 43.6%, increasing to 9,378 shares valued at $451,000 after acquiring 2,849 more shares. Furthermore, Palouse Capital Management Inc. entered the picture by acquiring an entirely new stake in Nutrien worth about $2,586,000 during the same period. In total, institutional investors and hedge funds control approximately 63.10% of Nutrien's stock.

Nutrien's Current Market Position

The stock of Nutrien Ltd. (NYSE:NTR) experienced a slight uptick of 0.4% on Tuesday, opening at $50.92. The company holds a market capitalization of $25.01 billion, with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 34.18 and a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 1.13, alongside a beta value of 0.81. Over the last 50 days, the stock has averaged at $49.02, with a longer 200-day moving average price of $48.10. Nutrien's stock also showcases a notable 12-month trading range, with a low of $43.69 and a high of $60.87. Current financial metrics reflect a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.82, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Analyst Ratings and Price Forecasts

Following Nutrien's recent performance, several leading equity analysts have provided their insights. Oppenheimer began coverage of Nutrien on December 12, issuing an "outperform" rating with a price target of $60.00. Barclays reaffirmed its "equal weight" position while raising the price target to $56.00 from $55.00 on January 21. Backing this up, Piper Sandler also increased its price target from $58.00 to $63.00, assigning an "overweight" rating. Conversely, TD Securities adjusted its price forecast downward from $63.00 to $61.00 but maintained a "buy" rating. CIBC also reiterated their "outperformer" rating but reduced the price target from $60.00 to $55.00 in December. Overall, one investment analyst has assigned a sell rating, six have given hold ratings, and ten analysts have issued buy ratings for the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Nutrien currently holds an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus price target of $59.00.

Overview of Nutrien Ltd.

Nutrien Ltd. operates within the agricultural sector, providing essential crop inputs and services. The company organizes its operations into four main segments: Retail, Potash, Nitrogen, and Phosphate. The Retail segment focuses on distributing crop nutrients, crop protection products, seeds, and various merchandise offerings. The Potash segment specializes in both granular and standard potash products, essential for agricultural production and sustainability.

Investment, Stocks, Nutrien