NEXT (LON:NXT) Hits New 1-Year High – What’s Next?

NEXT plc (LON:NXT)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as £121.55 ($162.13) and last traded at £121.30 ($161.80), with a volume of 983259 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at £120.50 ($160.73).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Shore Capital reissued a “buy” rating on shares of NEXT in a research report on Thursday, March 27th.

NEXT Trading Up 0.2 %

The company’s 50-day simple moving average is £106.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is £100.77. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 76.08. The firm has a market capitalization of £14.02 billion, a PE ratio of 17.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.66 and a beta of 1.37.

NEXT (LON:NXT) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 27th. The company reported GBX 615.10 ($8.20) EPS for the quarter. NEXT had a net margin of 13.77% and a return on equity of 55.99%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that NEXT plc will post 660.7526882 EPS for the current year.

NEXT Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 17th will be paid a dividend of GBX 208 ($2.77) per share. This is a positive change from NEXT’s previous dividend of $75.00. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.08%. NEXT’s payout ratio is presently 32.49%.

Insider Activity at NEXT

In other news, insider Richard Papp sold 4,307 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of £109.85 ($146.53), for a total value of £473,123.95 ($631,084.37). Also, insider Jeremy Stakol bought 270 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 23rd. The stock was purchased at an average price of £118.55 ($158.13) per share, for a total transaction of £32,008.50 ($42,695.08). 6.69% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About NEXT

Founded as a tailoring business in Leeds in 1864 by Joseph Hepworth and Son, today, the company offers clothing, footwear, accessories, beauty and home products to our UK and International customers.

NEXT has over 500 stores in the United Kingdom and Eire, and over 180 franchise branches across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.