BRF (NYSE:BRFS) Raised to Strong-Buy at Citigroup

Citigroup upgraded shares of BRF (NYSE:BRFS) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of BRF from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $10.70.

BRF Stock Down 1.2 %

Shares of BRFS opened at $3.68 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.93, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. BRF has a 52-week low of $2.67 and a 52-week high of $4.87. The company has a market cap of $3.98 billion, a PE ratio of 8.55, a P/E/G ratio of 0.21 and a beta of 1.88. The business has a fifty day moving average of $4.18 and a 200 day moving average of $4.24.

BRF Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a — dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 18th were paid a dividend of $0.0217 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 18th. BRF’s dividend payout ratio is currently 20.93%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Marshall Wace LLP grew its stake in BRF by 534.6% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 4,623,075 shares of the company’s stock worth $18,816,000 after acquiring an additional 3,894,533 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its holdings in BRF by 660.0% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,208,375 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,281,000 after purchasing an additional 1,049,373 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in BRF by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,006,059 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,396,000 after purchasing an additional 22,608 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of BRF by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 837,401 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,408,000 after buying an additional 45,061 shares during the period. Finally, B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of BRF by 8.5% during the second quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 386,300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,572,000 after buying an additional 30,300 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.76% of the company’s stock.

BRF Company Profile

BRF SA raises, produces, and slaughters poultry and pork for processing, production, and sale of fresh meat, processed products, pasta, margarine, pet food, and other products. The company provides frozen whole and cut chicken, frozen pork, and turkey, and halal products for Islamic markets; processed foods, such as marinated, frozen, seasoned whole, and cut chicken, roosters, sausages, ham products, bologna, frankfurters, salamis, bacons, cold meats, and other smoked products; and hamburgers, steaks, breaded meat products, kibbeh, and meatballs, as well as chicken sausages, hot dogs, and chicken bologna.