Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Central Puerto S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:CEPU) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 302,338 shares, a growth of 44.5% from the November 30th total of 209,166 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 363,390 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days. Based on an average daily volume of 363,390 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CEPU has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded Central Puerto from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Sunday, November 9th. Citigroup started coverage on Central Puerto in a research report on Wednesday, October 29th. They set a “buy” rating and a $17.50 target price for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Central Puerto in a report on Monday, December 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $17.50.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Central Puerto

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fourth Sail Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Central Puerto in the 2nd quarter valued at $1,736,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in Central Puerto by 6.1% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 2,423,762 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,880,000 after purchasing an additional 140,299 shares during the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in Central Puerto in the first quarter valued at about $688,000. Ping Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Central Puerto by 29.3% in the second quarter. Ping Capital Management Inc. now owns 119,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,390,000 after purchasing an additional 27,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Central Puerto by 76.8% during the second quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 31,809 shares of the company’s stock valued at $372,000 after buying an additional 13,819 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 2.97% of the company’s stock.

Central Puerto Trading Down 1.0%

CEPU traded down $0.17 during trading on Monday, hitting $17.36. 236,356 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 343,596. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.40. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $12.18. The firm has a market cap of $2.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.73 and a beta of 1.06. Central Puerto has a 1 year low of $7.43 and a 1 year high of $18.50.

Central Puerto (NYSE:CEPU) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Central Puerto had a return on equity of 15.01% and a net margin of 28.24%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Central Puerto will post 0.63 EPS for the current year.

Central Puerto Company Profile

Central Puerto SA (NYSE: CEPU) is Argentina’s leading private power generation company, managing a diversified portfolio of thermal and renewable energy facilities across the country. Established following the privatization of the state-owned electricity company in the early 1990s, Central Puerto develops, operates and maintains a mix of combined-cycle and open-cycle gas turbine plants, as well as hydroelectric and renewable installations. The company’s thermal assets provide baseload and flexible generation capacity, while its renewable portfolio includes wind farms and solar parks that support Argentina’s clean energy objectives.

Headquartered in Buenos Aires, Central Puerto serves the national wholesale electricity market through long-term contracts with distribution companies and major industrial clients.