BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) Short Interest Up 5.7% in January

BHP Group Limited (NYSE:BHP) saw a significant growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,480,000 shares, a growth of 5.7% from the December 31st total of 8,970,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,170,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.4 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BHP has been the subject of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of BHP Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com downgraded BHP Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $53.00.

Institutional Trading of BHP Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Eastern Bank purchased a new stake in shares of BHP Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BHP Group in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its stake in BHP Group by 124.6% during the 3rd quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 530 shares of the mining company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in BHP Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in shares of BHP Group during the fourth quarter valued at $46,000. 3.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BHP Group Stock Up 2.1 %

Shares of BHP Group stock opened at $49.82 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $50.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $53.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.29. BHP Group has a 12-month low of $48.06 and a 12-month high of $63.21.

BHP Group Company Profile

BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, uranium, gold, zinc, lead, molybdenum, silver, iron ore, cobalt, and metallurgical and energy coal.