Diploma (LON:DPLM) Stock Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Diploma PLC (LON:DPLM) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 4,402.66 ($55.80) and traded as high as GBX 4,518 ($57.26). Diploma shares last traded at GBX 4,490.09 ($56.91), with a volume of 195,176 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on DPLM shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Diploma from GBX 4,370 ($55.39) to GBX 4,420 ($56.02) and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 5,100 ($64.64) price target on shares of Diploma in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Shore Capital lowered Diploma to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Diploma currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of GBX 4,567.50 ($57.89).

Diploma Trading Up 1.0 %

The stock has a market capitalization of £6.05 billion, a PE ratio of 52.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.75. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 4,416.35 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 4,402.66. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.17.

Diploma Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 16th were given a dividend of GBX 42 ($0.53) per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 16th. This is a positive change from Diploma’s previous dividend of $17.30. This represents a dividend yield of 0.93%. Diploma’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.52%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Jennifer Ward acquired 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 4,250 ($53.87) per share, with a total value of £42,500 ($53,865.65). Also, insider Chris Davies acquired 3,917 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 4,280 ($54.25) per share, with a total value of £167,647.60 ($212,481.12). Insiders own 0.52% of the company’s stock.

Diploma Company Profile

Diploma PLC, together with its subsidiaries, supplies specialized technical products and services in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America, and internationally. It operates through three business sectors: Life Sciences, Seals, and Controls. The Life Sciences sector supplies technology-enabled products used in surgical procedures in operating theatres and endoscopy; testing equipment and services for clinical laboratories; and bio-pharma, food safety and testing, and other research-oriented products.