BAE Systems (LON:BA) Trading Down 0.5% - Here's What Happened

BAE Systems plc (LON:BA - Get Free Report) shares fell 0.5% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as GBX 1,752 ($23.29) and last traded at GBX 1,770.50 ($23.54). 4,847,676 shares changed hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,779 ($23.65).

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of BAE Systems from GBX 1,510 ($20.07) to GBX 1,900 ($25.26) and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Berenberg Bank restated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 1,440 ($19.14) price target on shares of BAE Systems in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on BAE Systems from GBX 1,630 ($21.67) to GBX 1,725 ($22.93) and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, BAE Systems has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 1,626.25 ($21.62).

BAE Systems Trading Down 2.3 %

The company has a market capitalization of £53.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 94.02. The company's fifty day simple moving average is GBX 1,631.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 1,379.86.

BAE Systems (LON:BA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 19th. The company reported GBX 68.50 ($0.91) earnings per share for the quarter. BAE Systems had a return on equity of 16.87% and a net margin of 7.49%. Research analysts forecast that BAE Systems plc will post 73.537927 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BAE Systems Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 17th will be given a dividend of GBX 20.60 ($0.27) per share. This is an increase from BAE Systems's previous dividend of $12.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.24%. BAE Systems's dividend payout ratio is currently 53.18%.

Insider Activity at BAE Systems

In related news, insider Brad Greve sold 363,705 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, April 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,497 ($19.90), for a total value of £5,444,663.85 ($7,238,319.40). Also, insider Charles Woodburn sold 877,344 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,565 ($20.81), for a total transaction of £13,730,433.60 ($18,253,700.61). In the last ninety days, insiders have purchased 30 shares of company stock valued at $40,272 and have sold 1,562,656 shares valued at $2,420,076,634. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Platforms & Services, Air, Maritime, and Cyber & Intelligence. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance capabilities, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems.

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