Pampa Energía (NYSE:PAM) Shares Up 5.6% – Time to Buy?

Pampa Energía S.A. (NYSE:PAM)’s stock price rose 5.6% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $85.64 and last traded at $85.89. Approximately 224,201 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 28% from the average daily volume of 310,645 shares. The stock had previously closed at $81.30.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PAM has been the topic of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Pampa Energía from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Pampa Energía from $59.00 to $93.50 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded Pampa Energía from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $58.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $71.63.

Pampa Energía Trading Down 0.3 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $4.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.76 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 2.13, a current ratio of 2.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The business has a 50-day moving average of $88.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $68.94.

Pampa Energía (NYSE:PAM) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $2.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.95. The firm had revenue of $540.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $517.71 million. Pampa Energía had a net margin of 19.86% and a return on equity of 12.15%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.80 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Pampa Energía S.A. will post 8.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PAM. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Pampa Energía by 158.1% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 413 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pampa Energía in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Pampa Energía in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $49,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Pampa Energía by 32.7% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,401 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its position in Pampa Energía by 26.6% during the 3rd quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 2,501 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $150,000 after buying an additional 526 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 12.77% of the company’s stock.

About Pampa Energía

Pampa Energía SA operates as an integrated power company in Argentina. The company operates through Electricity Generation, Oil and Gas, Petrochemicals, and Holding and Other Business segments. It generates electricity through thermal plants, hydroelectric plants, and wind farms with a 5,332 megawatt (MW) installed capacity.