Smiths Group (LON:SMIN) Hits New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

Smiths Group plc (LON:SMIN)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 2,720 and last traded at GBX 2,716, with a volume of 1266647 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,700.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on SMIN shares. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Smiths Group from GBX 2,950 to GBX 3,040 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Smiths Group from GBX 3,500 to GBX 4,300 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Smiths Group from GBX 2,820 to GBX 2,950 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Berenberg Bank reissued a “hold” rating and issued a GBX 2,750 target price on shares of Smiths Group in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Panmure Gordon restated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 2,870 target price on shares of Smiths Group in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Smiths Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of GBX 3,182.

Smiths Group Trading Up 0.8%

The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 2,530.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 2,444.20. The company has a market cap of £8.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.55, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 2.07.

Smiths Group declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, November 19th that authorizes the company to buyback 0 shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Richard Howes acquired 70 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 2,496 per share, with a total value of £1,747.20. Also, insider Simon Pryce acquired 68 shares of Smiths Group stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 2,496 per share, with a total value of £1,697.28. 0.78% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Smiths Group Company Profile

Smiths Group plc operates as an industrial engineering company in Americas, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through four businesses: John Crane, Smiths Detection, Flex-Tek, and Smiths Interconnect. The John Crane business engineers mechanical seals, seal support systems, power transmission couplings, and specialized filtration systems. The Smiths Detection business provides sensors and systems that detect and identify explosives, narcotics, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, and contraband.