Avantax Advisory Services Inc. Boosts Stock Position in BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP)

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 114,515 shares of the mining company’s stock after buying an additional 1,348 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in BHP Group were worth $5,592,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in BHP. Sigma Planning Corp bought a new position in BHP Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $235,000. Huntington National Bank lifted its position in BHP Group by 17.5% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,365 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Northcape Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in BHP Group by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Northcape Wealth Management LLC now owns 42,030 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $2,610,000 after acquiring an additional 2,629 shares in the last quarter. Adero Partners LLC bought a new position in BHP Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $243,000. Finally, AMG National Trust Bank bought a new position in BHP Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 3.79% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com cut BHP Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on BHP Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Clarkson Capital raised BHP Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $53.00.

BHP Group Price Performance

NYSE BHP opened at $49.44 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $49.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $125.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.24 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.25. BHP Group Limited has a 1-year low of $48.06 and a 1-year high of $63.21.

BHP Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.8%. BHP Group’s payout ratio is 44.77%.

About BHP Group

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.