Stock Traders Purchase High Volume of Call Options on FutureFuel (NYSE:FF)

FutureFuel Corp. (NYSE:FF) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Investors purchased 9,080 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 3,010% compared to the average daily volume of 292 call options.

FutureFuel Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE FF traded up $0.26 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $4.21. The stock had a trading volume of 340,719 shares, compared to its average volume of 207,453. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $3.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $3.63. FutureFuel has a twelve month low of $3.09 and a twelve month high of $4.91. The firm has a market cap of $184.53 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.32 and a beta of 0.70.

FutureFuel Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 4th will be given a dividend of $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 4th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. FutureFuel’s dividend payout ratio is presently -30.38%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of FutureFuel in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Sell rating, According to MarketBeat.com, FutureFuel has an average rating of “Sell”.

Institutional Trading of FutureFuel

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FF. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings in FutureFuel by 226.0% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 9,038 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 6,266 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in FutureFuel by 740.5% in the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,800 shares of the energy company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 8,634 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in FutureFuel by 527.1% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 9,990 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 8,397 shares during the period. Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its holdings in FutureFuel by 4,087.0% in the third quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 12,854 shares of the energy company’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 12,547 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centiva Capital LP bought a new position in FutureFuel in the third quarter worth approximately $50,000. Institutional investors own 44.56% of the company’s stock.

About FutureFuel

FutureFuel Corporation (NYSE: FF) operates as a specialty chemicals and biofuels producer, combining industrial chemistry with renewable energy solutions. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, FutureFuel Chemical Company, it manufactures a diverse portfolio of chemical products that serve fiber and textile applications, agricultural markets, water treatment processes and industrial coatings. In parallel, the company produces biodiesel using vegetable oils and animal fats as feedstocks, supplying both wholesale fuel distributors and commercial users seeking lower-carbon fuel alternatives.

The company’s manufacturing hub is located in Decatur, Arkansas, on a site originally constructed as an ordnance plant during World War II.