Jefferies Reaffirms $33.0000 TP On USG (USG), Reaffirms Hold Rating, Loews Decreased Its Barrick Gold (ABX) Position

June 2, 2017 - By Michael Collier

Among 15 analysts covering USG Corporation (NYSE:USG), 5 have Buy rating, 3 Sell and 7 Hold. Therefore 33% are positive. USG Corporation has $36 highest and $24 lowest target. $31.10’s average target is 6.62% above currents $29.17 stock price. USG Corporation had 28 analyst reports since July 29, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Bank of America initiated USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) rating on Friday, September 23. Bank of America has “Buy” rating and $36 target. Citigroup initiated USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) rating on Friday, August 26. Citigroup has “Neutral” rating and $32 target. RBC Capital Markets upgraded USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) rating on Tuesday, September 13. RBC Capital Markets has “Outperform” rating and $34 target. Jefferies maintained the stock with “Hold” rating in Thursday, September 22 report. The stock has “Neutral” rating by Macquarie Research on Wednesday, March 29. The rating was maintained by Jefferies with “Hold” on Wednesday, July 27. Goldman Sachs maintained the stock with “Sell” rating in Tuesday, November 22 report. The firm has “Buy” rating given on Monday, September 19 by Vertical Research. The firm has “Buy” rating by Zacks given on Saturday, August 29. RBC Capital Markets maintained the shares of USG in report on Monday, February 8 with “Sector Perform” rating.

Loews Corp decreased Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) stake by 48.14% reported in 2016Q4 SEC filing. Loews Corp sold 200,000 shares as Barrick Gold Corp (ABX)’s stock declined 17.45%. The Loews Corp holds 215,495 shares with $3.44 million value, down from 415,495 last quarter. Barrick Gold Corp now has $18.55 billion valuation. The stock declined 0.12% or $0.02 reaching $16.18 per share. About 10.57M shares traded. Barrick Gold Corp (USA) (NYSE:ABX) has declined 8.26% since June 2, 2016 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 24.96% the S&P500.

Analysts await Barrick Gold Corp (USA) (NYSE:ABX) to report earnings on July, 26. They expect $0.24 EPS, up 71.43% or $0.10 from last year’s $0.14 per share. ABX’s profit will be $275.15M for 16.85 P/E if the $0.24 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.14 actual EPS reported by Barrick Gold Corp (USA) for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts 71.43% EPS growth.

Loews Corp increased Willis Towers Watson Plc stake by 10,000 shares to 170,000 valued at $20.79M in 2016Q4. It also upped Realogy Holdings Corp (NYSE:RLGY) stake by 50,000 shares and now owns 685,000 shares. Aercap Holdings Nv (NYSE:AER) was raised too.

Among 22 analysts covering Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE:ABX), 11 have Buy rating, 1 Sell and 10 Hold. Therefore 50% are positive. Barrick Gold Corp. had 55 analyst reports since August 6, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The rating was upgraded by IBC to “Outperform” on Monday, June 27. The stock of Barrick Gold Corp (USA) (NYSE:ABX) has “Buy” rating given on Monday, October 3 by Deutsche Bank. The stock of Barrick Gold Corp (USA) (NYSE:ABX) has “Sector Perform” rating given on Friday, September 18 by RBC Capital Markets. The rating was maintained by Jefferies with “Buy” on Friday, April 7. The rating was initiated by IBC on Friday, July 24 with “Sector Perform”. The firm earned “Buy” rating on Thursday, May 25 by RBC Capital Markets. JP Morgan maintained Barrick Gold Corp (USA) (NYSE:ABX) rating on Tuesday, March 15. JP Morgan has “Neutral” rating and $14 target. The rating was maintained by BMO Capital Markets with “Buy” on Monday, April 3. The firm earned “Buy” rating on Tuesday, August 2 by Citigroup. On Tuesday, September 8 the stock rating was maintained by HSBC with “Buy”.

Investors sentiment increased to 0.88 in 2016 Q4. Its up 0.04, from 0.84 in 2016Q3. It is positive, as 33 investors sold USG Corporation shares while 81 reduced holdings. 37 funds opened positions while 63 raised stakes. 124.79 million shares or 2.48% more from 121.78 million shares in 2016Q3 were reported. First Republic Investment Management accumulated 14,849 shares. Dudley And Shanley Lc reported 7.23% in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG). Schwab Charles Inv Mngmt Incorporated, a California-based fund reported 353,622 shares. Dimensional Fund Ltd Partnership stated it has 0.03% of its portfolio in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG). 4.94M are owned by Shapiro Capital Ltd Llc. Sasco Cap Ct, Connecticut-based fund reported 3.76 million shares. Daiwa Secs Gp invested in 0.01% or 72,400 shares. Alps Advsr accumulated 15,719 shares. Gotham Asset Limited Liability Co has invested 0.15% of its portfolio in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG). Ohio-based Winfield Associates has invested 0% in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG). Fifth Third Bank & Trust owns 58,426 shares. California Public Employees Retirement System invested in 164,700 shares. Comml Bank Of Montreal Can stated it has 0% of its portfolio in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG). London Communication Of Virginia holds 1.32% of its portfolio in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) for 6.66 million shares. Moreover, Edge Wealth Mgmt Ltd Liability Corporation has 0.01% invested in USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) for 510 shares.

Since February 13, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 1 sale for $1.50 million activity. HILZINGER MATTHEW F sold $1.50M worth of stock or 45,596 shares.

The stock increased 1.11% or $0.32 on June 2, reaching $29.17. About 783,767 shares traded. USG Corporation (NYSE:USG) has risen 0.17% since June 2, 2016 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 16.53% the S&P500.