Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTNR) Director Christopher Allen Stratton Sells 25,000 Shares

Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VTNR – Get Rating) Director Christopher Allen Stratton sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.08, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 66,913 shares in the company, valued at $674,483.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link.

Vertex Energy Stock Down 3.4 %

VTNR stock opened at $7.85 on Wednesday. Vertex Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $5.42 and a one year high of $18.10. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $7.74 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 0.96.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in VTNR. CI Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vertex Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $53,000. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in shares of Vertex Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $60,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank bought a new position in shares of Vertex Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $61,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC bought a new position in shares of Vertex Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $65,000. Finally, Raymond James & Associates bought a new position in shares of Vertex Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $71,000. Institutional investors own 63.44% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Vertex Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, November 18th. Northland Securities assumed coverage on shares of Vertex Energy in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $15.00 target price on the stock. Oppenheimer raised shares of Vertex Energy from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $14.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Craig Hallum lifted their price target on shares of Vertex Energy from $12.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Finally, TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Vertex Energy in a research note on Friday, March 10th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $8.00 price target on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $14.43.

About Vertex Energy

(Get Rating)

Vertex Energy, Inc engages in the recycle of industrial waste streams and off-specification commercial chemical products. The firm focuses on the recycle of used motor oil and other petroleum by-products. It operates through the following segments: Black Oil, Refining and Marketing and Recovery. The Black Oil segment collects and purchases used motor oil from third-party generators, established network of local and regional collectors and sells used motor oil to customers for use as a feedstock or replacement fuel for industrial burners.