AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) Trading 4.6% Higher

AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU) was up 4.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $22.93 and last traded at $22.92. Approximately 1,300,401 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 40% from the average daily volume of 2,177,824 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.92.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on AU shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of AngloGold Ashanti from $23.00 to $31.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, HSBC downgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a “hold” rating to a “reduce” rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $24.25.

AngloGold Ashanti Price Performance

The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $21.38 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.15.

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th were issued a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.1%. This is a positive change from AngloGold Ashanti’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.03.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AngloGold Ashanti

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. purchased a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the third quarter worth $245,342,000. First Eagle Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in AngloGold Ashanti by 312.3% during the fourth quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 6,003,149 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $112,199,000 after buying an additional 4,547,011 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG purchased a new stake in AngloGold Ashanti during the third quarter worth $25,027,000. FMR LLC raised its position in AngloGold Ashanti by 35,493.9% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,279,602 shares of the mining company’s stock worth $20,593,000 after acquiring an additional 1,276,007 shares during the period. Finally, Swiss National Bank acquired a new position in AngloGold Ashanti during the third quarter worth $17,101,000. Institutional investors own 36.09% of the company’s stock.

About AngloGold Ashanti

AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita project located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.