Short Interest in AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU) Grows By 24.9%

AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU) saw a large increase in short interest in the month of September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,360,000 shares, an increase of 24.9% from the August 31st total of 4,290,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,650,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.2 days.

AngloGold Ashanti Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE AU traded down $1.47 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $27.67. 2,172,150 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,936,261. AngloGold Ashanti has a 12 month low of $14.91 and a 12 month high of $32.57. The company has a current ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $25.78.

AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The mining company reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.17 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that AngloGold Ashanti will post 2.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 13th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a yield of 0.7%. This is a boost from AngloGold Ashanti’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $28.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Scotiabank reissued a “sector underperform” rating and issued a $30.00 price target (up previously from $27.00) on shares of AngloGold Ashanti in a research note on Monday, August 19th. StockNews.com raised AngloGold Ashanti from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on AngloGold Ashanti from $33.00 to $32.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, AngloGold Ashanti has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $32.00.

Institutional Trading of AngloGold Ashanti

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 52.8% in the fourth quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,424,939 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $26,632,000 after purchasing an additional 492,358 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp bought a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,268,000. Oaktree Capital Management LP lifted its stake in AngloGold Ashanti by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Oaktree Capital Management LP now owns 5,874,951 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $109,803,000 after acquiring an additional 446,132 shares in the last quarter. Oaktree Fund Advisors LLC boosted its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Oaktree Fund Advisors LLC now owns 603,911 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $11,287,000 after acquiring an additional 24,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential PLC grew its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 57,452 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $1,074,000 after acquiring an additional 1,486 shares in the last quarter. 36.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, Australia, and the Americas. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita mine located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.