Principal Financial Group Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE)

Principal Financial Group Inc. cut its stake in shares of Green Plains Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE) by 4.4% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 304,696 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock after selling 13,968 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Green Plains were worth $4,126,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Green Plains in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in Green Plains during the second quarter valued at about $41,000. nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Green Plains in the third quarter valued at about $65,000. Everence Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Green Plains during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $153,000. Finally, DRW Securities LLC purchased a new position in Green Plains in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $168,000.

Green Plains Stock Performance

Shares of GPRE stock opened at $11.09 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market cap of $716.65 million, a PE ratio of -28.63 and a beta of 1.53. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.74. Green Plains Inc. has a 52-week low of $10.36 and a 52-week high of $28.50.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GPRE has been the subject of several research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets cut their target price on shares of Green Plains from $22.00 to $17.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. StockNews.com cut Green Plains from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday. Oppenheimer downgraded Green Plains from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Green Plains from $26.00 to $23.50 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Finally, Craig Hallum lowered their price objective on shares of Green Plains from $34.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $25.50.

Green Plains Profile

Green Plains Inc produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnership. The Ethanol Production segment produces ethanol, distillers grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil.