Centrica (LON:CNA) Reaches New 1-Year High – Time to Buy?

Centrica plc (LON:CNA) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as GBX 150.25 ($1.90) and last traded at GBX 143.55 ($1.81), with a volume of 51904449 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 135.90 ($1.72).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup reissued a “top pick” rating on shares of Centrica in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 150 ($1.90) target price on shares of Centrica in a report on Friday, December 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of GBX 167 ($2.11).

Centrica Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 135.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 127.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.48. The stock has a market cap of £7.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.08.

Centrica (LON:CNA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The integrated energy company reported GBX 19 ($0.24) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Centrica had a return on equity of 25.16% and a net margin of 5.39%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Amber Rudd purchased 1,672 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 135 ($1.71) per share, with a total value of £2,257.20 ($2,851.80). Insiders have purchased a total of 5,096 shares of company stock valued at $658,232 in the last 90 days. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Centrica Company Profile

Centrica is energising a greener, fairer future for our colleagues, customers and communities. Our integrated business operates across the energy value chain, with over ten million Retail customers, leading brands such as British Gas and Bord Gáis Energy, and the UK’s largest energy services workforce.