Marks and Spencer Group Plc (MKS) Downgraded by Societe Generale

Marks and Spencer Group Plc (LON:MKS) was downgraded by analysts at Societe Generale to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday. They presently have a GBX 424 ($6.14) target price on the retailer’s stock, down from their prior target price of GBX 545 ($7.89). Societe Generale’s target price suggests a potential upside of 8.55% from the stock’s previous close.

Marks and Spencer Group Plc (LON:MKS) opened at 387.1000 on Friday. Marks and Spencer Group Plc has a 12-month low of GBX 385.42 and a 12-month high of GBX 599.35. The firm’s market capitalization is GBX 6.36 billion. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 429.86 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 440.11.

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of GBX 16.50 ($0.24) per share. This is a boost from Marks and Spencer Group Plc’s previous dividend of $6.80. This represents a dividend yield of 4.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 2nd.

MKS has been the subject of several other research reports. HSBC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 680 ($9.84) target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group Plc in a research report on Friday, March 18th. BNP Paribas reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a GBX 465 ($6.73) target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group Plc in a research report on Monday, April 4th. Numis Securities Ltd reiterated a “hold” rating and set a GBX 390 ($5.64) target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group Plc in a research report on Thursday. Jefferies Group cut shares of Marks and Spencer Group Plc to an “underperform” rating and dropped their target price for the company from GBX 410 ($5.93) to GBX 300 ($4.34) in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Deutsche Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 580 ($8.39) target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group Plc in a research report on Monday, February 1st. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of GBX 457.52 ($6.62).

In other Marks and Spencer Group Plc news, insider Swannell,Robert purchased 3,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 396 ($5.73) per share, with a total value of £11,880 ($17,189.99).

Marks and Spencer Group plc is a retailer in the United Kingdom. The Company is the holding company of the Marks & Spencer Group of companies. The Company operates through five segments: M&S for Business, M&S Bank, M&S Energy, M&S Outlet and M&S TV to provide the services of Christmas Shopping, Style & Living, Women, Lingerie, Beauty, Men, Kids, Home, Food & Wine, Flowers & Gifts, Outlets, Television, Energy and M&S Bank.