Boston, MA 10/21/2013 (wallstreetpr) – In an ailing sector, Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE:ANR) has had its rating slashed by analysts studying the company at BMO Capital Markets. It how has underperform, down from market perform in the previous report to investors.
ANR has also been a subject of several other analysts including Goldman Sachs Group and Macquarie who have assigned it neutral and underperform respectively in their latest comments. At least 17 analysts have so far lately commented on the company’s stock with three giving it a buy, four issuing sell and 10 giving it a hold rating. On average, the metallurgical coals supplier and explorer has a consensus hold and consensus price target of $8.04.
In its most recent quarterly posting, ANR reported $0.59 in earnings per share which was in-line with the consensus estimate of $0.59. Its revenue for the quarter was $1.34 billion, which exceeded the $1.24 billion consensus estimate. During the comparable quarter in 2013, the company reported $0.33 EPS. However, the revenue this time around dropped by 27.8% in comparison to a year ago. Analysts now expect the coal supplier and explorer to see EPS in the region of $-2.48 in the current fiscal year.
The company now has $1.26 billion in market cap. Its previous trading was lackluster, losing 4.19% to close down $5.72 on Friday, October 18.
The company explores and supplies metallurgical coals to steel-making companies. It also supplies thermal coal to manufacturing industries and electric utilities. The coal industry is under pressure over environmental issues and this has greatly impacted negatively on players such as ANR.
The company which operates 26 coal preparation plants and 107 mines is doing all it can to restore investor confidence and give them good treat for their investment. So it means that this week and the weeks to come ANR enters the most-watched territory.
