Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Call Options on Ardagh Metal Packaging (NYSE:AMBP)

Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. (NYSE:AMBP) saw some unusual options trading on Tuesday. Investors bought 5,017 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 1,217% compared to the average daily volume of 381 call options.

Ardagh Metal Packaging Trading Down 0.6 %

Ardagh Metal Packaging stock opened at $3.96 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 124.21, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.58. Ardagh Metal Packaging has a one year low of $2.57 and a one year high of $4.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.36 billion, a PE ratio of -28.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 0.75. The business’s fifty day moving average is $3.48 and its 200 day moving average is $3.59.

Ardagh Metal Packaging (NYSE:AMBP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.14 billion. Ardagh Metal Packaging had a positive return on equity of 55.91% and a negative net margin of 1.26%. Ardagh Metal Packaging’s revenue was up .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.01 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Ardagh Metal Packaging will post 0.17 EPS for the current year.

Ardagh Metal Packaging Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 12th will be given a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 12th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 10.11%. Ardagh Metal Packaging’s payout ratio is -285.69%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on AMBP. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Ardagh Metal Packaging in a report on Monday, March 18th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $3.20 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Ardagh Metal Packaging from $3.70 to $3.75 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, April 11th. UBS Group began coverage on Ardagh Metal Packaging in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $5.00 price objective for the company. Barclays downgraded Ardagh Metal Packaging from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $4.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded Ardagh Metal Packaging from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $4.10 to $3.50 in a report on Monday, April 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $4.31.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging by 15.0% in the third quarter. Keeley Teton Advisors LLC now owns 1,579,381 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,943,000 after buying an additional 206,295 shares during the period. Aigen Investment Management LP raised its stake in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging by 253.1% in the third quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 55,497 shares of the company’s stock worth $174,000 after buying an additional 39,780 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging by 53.0% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,105,701 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,461,000 after buying an additional 383,081 shares during the period. Wedmont Private Capital bought a new position in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging in the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. raised its stake in shares of Ardagh Metal Packaging by 771.2% in the third quarter. BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. now owns 2,783,639 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,713,000 after buying an additional 2,464,105 shares during the period. 16.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Ardagh Metal Packaging

Ardagh Metal Packaging SA, together with its subsidiaries, supplies consumer metal beverage cans in Europe, the United States, and Brazil. Its products are used in various end-use categories, including beer, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, hard seltzers, juices, pre-mixed cocktails, teas, sparkling waters, and wine.