Sapient Capital LLC Lowers Holdings in Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM)

Sapient Capital LLC decreased its stake in Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. (NYSE:WPM) by 5.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,538 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,425 shares during the quarter. Sapient Capital LLC’s holdings in Wheaton Precious Metals were worth $1,204,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. CVA Family Office LLC purchased a new position in Wheaton Precious Metals during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Wheaton Precious Metals during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Mechanics Financial Corp boosted its position in Wheaton Precious Metals by 200.0% during the third quarter. Mechanics Financial Corp now owns 900 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Wheaton Precious Metals during the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in Wheaton Precious Metals by 230.7% during the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 863 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.34% of the company’s stock.

Wheaton Precious Metals Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:WPM traded down $1.42 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $52.14. The company had a trading volume of 2,010,079 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,141,566. Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. has a twelve month low of $38.37 and a twelve month high of $54.45. The stock has a market cap of $23.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.32 and a beta of 0.77. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $46.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $46.59.

Wheaton Precious Metals (NYSE:WPM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 14th. The company reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.04. Wheaton Precious Metals had a return on equity of 7.76% and a net margin of 52.92%. The firm had revenue of $313.47 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $284.29 million. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. will post 1.25 EPS for the current year.

Wheaton Precious Metals Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 3rd were issued a $0.155 dividend. This represents a $0.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.19%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 2nd. This is a boost from Wheaton Precious Metals’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. Wheaton Precious Metals’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 52.10%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. CIBC increased their price target on Wheaton Precious Metals from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Scotiabank lowered their price target on Wheaton Precious Metals from $60.00 to $59.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Berenberg Bank raised their target price on Wheaton Precious Metals from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 27th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Wheaton Precious Metals from $52.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. Finally, National Bank Financial downgraded Wheaton Precious Metals from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $59.32.

Wheaton Precious Metals Company Profile

Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. primarily sells precious metals in North America, Europe, and South America. It produces and sells gold, silver, palladium, and cobalt deposits. The company was formerly known as Silver Wheaton Corp. and changed its name to Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. in May 2017. Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.