Analysts Set Centrica plc (LON:CNA) Price Target at GBX 171.25

Centrica plc (LON:CNA) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the six brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 171.25 ($2.21).

Several analysts have recently commented on CNA shares. Berenberg Bank raised shares of Centrica to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from GBX 130 ($1.68) to GBX 155 ($2.00) in a research report on Friday, June 28th. UBS Group raised shares of Centrica to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from GBX 165 ($2.13) to GBX 170 ($2.20) in a research note on Wednesday, May 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Centrica to an “outperform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from GBX 145 ($1.88) to GBX 170 ($2.20) in a report on Friday, May 31st. Barclays reduced their target price on Centrica from GBX 205 ($2.65) to GBX 190 ($2.46) and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Centrica in a research note on Friday, July 5th.

Insider Activity at Centrica

In related news, insider Chris O’Shea acquired 2,785,622 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 144 ($1.86) per share, with a total value of £4,011,295.68 ($5,187,914.74). In other news, insider Philippe Boisseau purchased 1,163 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 25th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 139 ($1.80) per share, with a total value of £1,616.57 ($2,090.75). Also, insider Chris O’Shea acquired 2,785,622 shares of Centrica stock in a transaction on Friday, May 17th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 144 ($1.86) per share, with a total value of £4,011,295.68 ($5,187,914.74). In the last quarter, insiders have acquired 2,928,817 shares of company stock valued at $418,942,432. 0.17% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Centrica Trading Up 2.0 %

LON CNA opened at GBX 133.57 ($1.73) on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of £7.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 189.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 137.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 134.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.93, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.40. Centrica has a one year low of GBX 123.35 ($1.60) and a one year high of GBX 173.70 ($2.25).

Centrica Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 3rd will be given a dividend of GBX 1.50 ($0.02) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 3rd. Centrica’s payout ratio is presently 579.71%.

About Centrica

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.