Investec downgraded shares of BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT) to a sell rating in a report released on Wednesday morning, AnalystRatings.NET reports. They currently have GBX 581 ($8.29) price objective on the mining company’s stock, down from their previous price objective of GBX 943 ($13.45).

Shares of BHP Billiton plc (LON:BLT) traded down 1.5873% during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching GBX 638.6000. 6,319,741 shares of the company’s stock traded hands. BHP Billiton plc has a 12-month low of GBX 571.60 and a 12-month high of GBX 1,670.50. The company’s market cap is GBX 33.98 billion. The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 696.84 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 982.70.

Several other research analysts also recently weighed in on BLT. Liberum Capital restated a hold rating and set a GBX 1,045 ($14.91) price objective on shares of BHP Billiton plc in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Macquarie set a GBX 760 ($10.84) price objective on shares of BHP Billiton plc and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank restated a hold rating and set a GBX 935 ($13.34) price objective on shares of BHP Billiton plc in a report on Thursday, January 14th. Haitong Securities upgraded shares of BHP Billiton plc to a buy rating and lowered their target price for the company from GBX 1,219 ($17.39) to GBX 862 ($12.30) in a report on Friday, January 8th. Finally, S&P Equity Research reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 700 ($9.99) target price on shares of BHP Billiton plc in a report on Friday, January 15th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 856.38 ($12.22).

BHP Billiton Plc is engaged in exploration, development, production, processing and marketing of minerals, in respect of iron ore, metallurgical and energy coal, copper, aluminum, manganese, uranium, nickel, silver and potash, and exploration, development, production and marketing of conventional and unconventional oil and gas. The Company operates through segments, including Petroleum and Potash, Copper, Iron Ore and Coal. The Company’s Petroleum and Potash segment is engaged in exploration, development and production of oil and gas and potash pre-development. The Copper segment is engaged in mining of copper, silver, lead, zinc, molybdenum, uranium and gold. The Iron Ore segment is engaged in mining of iron ore. The Coal segment is engaged in mining of metallurgical coal and thermal (LON:BLT) coal.

Frustrated with your broker? Are you tired of paying high fees? Do you feel like you are getting ripped off by your stock broker? It's time for a change. Find out which brokerage is best for your personal trading style at the InvestorPlace Broker Center. Compare brokers at a glance in the InvestorPlace Broker Center (Click Here).

Receive News & Ratings for BHP Billiton plc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BHP Billiton plc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.