United States Steel Co. (NYSE:X) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

United States Steel Co. (NYSE:X) has been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eight research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $40.70.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of United States Steel in a research report on Monday, January 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of United States Steel from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of United States Steel from $40.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of United States Steel from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on shares of United States Steel from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 20th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in X. Norges Bank purchased a new position in United States Steel during the fourth quarter worth about $130,731,000. Castle Hook Partners LP acquired a new position in United States Steel during the third quarter worth about $91,712,000. Forest Avenue Capital Management LP acquired a new position in United States Steel during the fourth quarter worth about $50,795,000. Holocene Advisors LP acquired a new position in United States Steel during the third quarter worth about $51,620,000. Finally, NWI Management LP acquired a new position in United States Steel during the fourth quarter worth about $48,946,000. 81.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United States Steel Price Performance

Shares of X opened at $38.94 on Tuesday. United States Steel has a twelve month low of $26.92 and a twelve month high of $43.35. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $37.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.13, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.86. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

United States Steel (NYSE:X) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.18) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.20 by ($0.38). United States Steel had a net margin of 2.46% and a return on equity of 4.27%. Equities analysts forecast that United States Steel will post 1.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United States Steel Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.51%. United States Steel’s payout ratio is 13.42%.

United States Steel Company Profile

United States Steel Corporation produces and sells flat-rolled and tubular steel products primarily in North America and Europe. The company operates through North American Flat-Rolled (Flat-Rolled), Mini Mill, U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular) segments. The Flat-Rolled segment offers slabs, strip mill plates, sheets, and tin mill products, as well as iron ore and coke.