Dynagas LNG Partners LP (NYSE:DLNG) Stock Rating Reaffirmed by Stifel Nicolaus

Dynagas LNG Partners LP (NYSE:DLNG)‘s stock had its “buy” rating reaffirmed by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus in a report issued on Friday. They currently have a $19.00 price target on the shipping company’s stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ target price would suggest a potential upside of 25.58% from the company’s previous close.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Maxim Group set a $20.00 price objective on shares of Dynagas LNG Partners and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Jefferies Group LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 price objective on shares of Dynagas LNG Partners in a report on Monday, June 12th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Dynagas LNG Partners to $13.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Dynagas LNG Partners from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. The company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $16.21.

Shares of Dynagas LNG Partners (NYSE:DLNG) traded down 0.33% during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $15.08. 127,915 shares of the company traded hands. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $14.84 and a 200-day moving average of $16.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $535.72 million, a PE ratio of 9.59 and a beta of 1.11. Dynagas LNG Partners has a 52 week low of $12.76 and a 52 week high of $17.93.

Dynagas LNG Partners (NYSE:DLNG) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, June 8th. The shipping company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $39.09 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $40.38 million. Dynagas LNG Partners had a net margin of 37.68% and a return on equity of 23.74%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Dynagas LNG Partners will post $1.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of DLNG. Van ECK Associates Corp bought a new stake in Dynagas LNG Partners during the first quarter valued at approximately $4,484,000. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its stake in Dynagas LNG Partners by 16.3% in the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,469,530 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $25,893,000 after buying an additional 205,730 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in Dynagas LNG Partners by 1,073.9% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 160,824 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $2,570,000 after buying an additional 147,124 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in Dynagas LNG Partners by 10.4% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 638,715 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $11,254,000 after buying an additional 60,224 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Dynagas LNG Partners during the first quarter valued at approximately $643,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 21.80% of the company’s stock.

Dynagas LNG Partners Company Profile

Dynagas LNG Partners LP is a limited partnership, which focuses on owning and operating liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers. The Company’s vessels are employed on multi-year time charters with international energy companies. As of December 31, 2016, the Company owned and operated a fleet of six LNG carriers, consisting of the three LNG carriers in its Initial Fleet, the Clean Energy, the Ob River and the Amur River, and three 2013-built Ice Class LNG carriers that the Company acquired from its Sponsor the Arctic Aurora, the Yenisei River, and the Lena River (collectively referred as its Fleet).