Burford Capital Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:BUR)

Burford Capital Limited (NYSE:BUR) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Wednesday. Investors acquired 16,007 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 3,070% compared to the typical daily volume of 505 put options.

Institutional Trading of Burford Capital

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Amalgamated Bank bought a new stake in shares of Burford Capital during the second quarter valued at approximately $90,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of Burford Capital by 503.2% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 7,769 shares of the company’s stock worth $101,000 after acquiring an additional 6,481 shares in the last quarter. Xponance Inc. bought a new stake in Burford Capital during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $166,000. Paloma Partners Management Co purchased a new stake in shares of Burford Capital in the first quarter worth approximately $192,000. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Burford Capital in the first quarter valued at approximately $238,000.

Burford Capital Price Performance

Shares of BUR remained flat at $13.69 during midday trading on Wednesday. The stock had a trading volume of 66,027 shares, compared to its average volume of 975,321. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 11.01 and a quick ratio of 11.01. Burford Capital has a one year low of $12.07 and a one year high of $16.77. The company has a market cap of $3.00 billion, a PE ratio of 9.57 and a beta of 0.53. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $13.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.84.

Burford Capital (NYSE:BUR) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 8th. The company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.34 by ($0.10). The company had revenue of $159.65 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $153.00 million. Burford Capital had a net margin of 45.81% and a return on equity of 12.58%. On average, research analysts predict that Burford Capital will post 1.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Burford Capital Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 5th. Investors of record on Friday, November 1st will be issued a $0.063 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 1st. This represents a yield of 2%. Burford Capital’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on BUR. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $22.50 price objective on shares of Burford Capital in a research report on Tuesday, July 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Burford Capital in a report on Friday, September 6th. They set a “buy” rating and a $18.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $18.00 price objective on shares of Burford Capital in a report on Friday, August 9th.

Burford Capital Company Profile

Burford Capital Limited provides legal finance products and services worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Capital Provision, and Asset Management and Other Provision. The Capital Provision segment provides capital to the legal industry or in connection with legal matters directly and through investment in private funds; legal risk management services; lower risk legal finance business focusing on pre-settlement litigation matters with lower risk and lower expected returns; post-settlement finance; and complex strategies in which it acts as a principal and acquires assets that are mispriced.