Centrica (LON:CNA) Sets New 52-Week High – Here’s What Happened

Centrica plc (LON:CNA) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as GBX 153.35 ($1.98) and last traded at GBX 151.70 ($1.96), with a volume of 19389826 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 150.65 ($1.94).

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 150 ($1.93) price objective on shares of Centrica in a research report on Friday, December 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of GBX 167 ($2.15).

Centrica Stock Performance

The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 143.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 131.66. 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 capitalization of £7.35 billion, a PE ratio of 7.01, a PEG ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.08.

Centrica (LON:CNA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The integrated energy company reported GBX 19 ($0.25) earnings per share for the quarter. Centrica had a return on equity of 25.16% and a net margin of 5.39%.

Centrica Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 1st will be given a GBX 3 ($0.04) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.08%. This is a positive change from Centrica’s previous dividend of $1.50. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 1st. Centrica’s dividend payout ratio is 19.06%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Philippe Boisseau bought 1,270 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 26th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 148 ($1.91) per share, with a total value of £1,879.60 ($2,424.66). Also, insider Amber Rudd purchased 1,672 shares of Centrica stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 135 ($1.74) per share, with a total value of £2,257.20 ($2,911.76). Over the last three months, insiders purchased 4,537 shares of company stock worth $654,104. 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.