Western Gas Partners, LP (NYSE:WES) was downgraded by equities researchers at Tudor Pickering from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several hedge funds and institutional investors recently modified their holdings of WES. Sigma Planning increased its position in shares of Western Gas Partners, by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Sigma Planning now owns 5,685 shares of the company’s stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Country Club Trust Company n.a. increased its position in shares of Western Gas Partners, by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Country Club Trust Company n.a. now owns 11,798 shares of the company’s stock worth $561,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of Western Gas Partners, by 35.2% in the fourth quarter. Creative Planning now owns 31,716 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,507,000 after buying an additional 8,258 shares during the last quarter. Spirit of America Management increased its position in shares of Western Gas Partners, by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Spirit of America Management now owns 238,389 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,331,000 after buying an additional 6,500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Duff & Phelps Investment Management Company increased its position in shares of Western Gas Partners, by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Company now owns 457,400 shares of the company’s stock worth $21,740,000 after buying an additional 23,200 shares during the last quarter.

WES has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Barclays decreased their price target on Western Gas Partners, from $76.00 to $70.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 2nd. Deutsche Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $57.00 price target (down previously from $64.00) on shares of Western Gas Partners, in a research report on Monday, November 16th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Western Gas Partners, from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $47.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, January 11th. Citigroup Inc. lowered Western Gas Partners, from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Thursday, November 5th. Finally, Capital One Financial Corp. assumed coverage on Western Gas Partners, in a research report on Thursday, January 14th. They set an “an overweight” rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $64.40.

Shares of Western Gas Partners, (NYSE:WES) opened at 33.46 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $40.33 and a 200 day moving average of $50.07. The firm has a market cap of $4.68 billion and a P/E ratio of 16.94. Western Gas Partners, has a 12 month low of $27.85 and a 12 month high of $74.30.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 11th. Investors of record on Monday, February 1st will be paid a $0.80 dividend. This is an increase from Western Gas Partners,’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 28th.

Western Gas Partners, LP, (NYSE:WES) is a master limited partnership (MLP) that owns, operates, acquires and develops midstream energy assets. The Partnership is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, Natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (Anadarko) and its consolidated subsidiaries, as well as third-party producers and customers. Anadarko is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company engaged in upstream oil and gas business, and explores for and produces natural gas, crude oil, condensate and NGLs. The Partnership’s services include gathering, stabilization, compression, treating and dehydration, processing, fractionation, and storage, transportation and marketing.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:WES

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