Centrica plc (LON:CNA) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Centrica plc (LON:CNA) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the five research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 156.25 ($1.96).

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Centrica in a report on Friday, February 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Centrica in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Centrica to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from GBX 165 ($2.07) to GBX 170 ($2.14) in a report on Wednesday.

Centrica Price Performance

Shares of LON:CNA traded up GBX 2.90 ($0.04) during trading on Wednesday, hitting GBX 134.05 ($1.68). 19,484,303 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 30,617,424. Centrica has a 1-year low of GBX 112.25 ($1.41) and a 1-year high of GBX 173.70 ($2.18). The company has a market capitalization of £7.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 194.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.93. The business’s 50 day moving average is GBX 128.87 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 139.15.

Centrica Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 11th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 30th will be given a GBX 2.67 ($0.03) dividend. This is a positive change from Centrica’s previous dividend of $1.33. This represents a yield of 1.99%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 30th. Centrica’s dividend payout ratio is presently 579.71%.

Insider Transactions at Centrica

In other news, insider Philippe Boisseau bought 1,428 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 25th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 131 ($1.65) per share, with a total value of £1,870.68 ($2,350.10). In related news, insider Philippe Boisseau acquired 1,428 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 25th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 131 ($1.65) per share, for a total transaction of £1,870.68 ($2,350.10). Also, insider Amber Rudd purchased 1,720 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 25th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 127 ($1.60) per share, for a total transaction of £2,184.40 ($2,744.22). Insiders bought a total of 5,202 shares of company stock worth $667,723 in the last quarter. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Centrica Company Profile

Centrica plc operates as an integrated energy company in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, North America, and internationally. The company operates through British Gas Services & Solutions, British Gas Energy, Centrica Business Solutions, Bord Gáis Energy, Centrica Energy, and Upstream segments.