Principal Financial Group Inc. Increases Position in FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE:FF)

Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE:FF) by 4.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 174,603 shares of the energy company’s stock after buying an additional 7,875 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.40% of FutureFuel Corp. worth $2,476,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FF. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of FutureFuel Corp. by 0.9% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 11,819 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $168,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in shares of FutureFuel Corp. by 0.5% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 20,302 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $288,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management & Equity Research Inc. increased its position in shares of FutureFuel Corp. by 2.6% in the first quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management & Equity Research Inc. now owns 27,516 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $390,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in shares of FutureFuel Corp. by 6.3% in the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 12,230 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $170,000 after buying an additional 730 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank increased its position in shares of FutureFuel Corp. by 3.8% in the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 25,166 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $398,000 after buying an additional 910 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 42.76% of the company’s stock.

Shares of FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE FF) traded up 2.68% during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $14.95. The stock had a trading volume of 22,226 shares. FutureFuel Corp. has a 52-week low of $10.24 and a 52-week high of $16.58. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $14.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $14.19. The stock has a market cap of $654.05 million, a PE ratio of 13.27 and a beta of 1.79.

FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE:FF) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The energy company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.09. FutureFuel Corp. had a return on equity of 12.98% and a net margin of 18.86%. The firm had revenue of $54.11 million for the quarter. Equities analysts predict that FutureFuel Corp. will post $1.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. BidaskClub downgraded FutureFuel Corp. from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday. TheStreet downgraded FutureFuel Corp. from a “b” rating to a “c+” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th.

In related news, Director Keith Neumeyer purchased 100,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $0.60 per share, with a total value of $60,000.00. Company insiders own 43.30% of the company’s stock.

About FutureFuel Corp.

FutureFuel Corp. is the holding company of FutureFuel Chemical Company. FutureFuel Chemical Company manufactures diversified chemical products, bio-based products consisting of biofuels, and bio-based specialty chemical products. FutureFuel Chemical Company conducts its operations through two segments: chemicals and biofuels.