Royal Bank Of Canada Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Barclays (LON:BARC) Stock

Key Points

• Analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada have raised the price target for Barclays from GBX 355 to GBX 435, indicating a potential upside of 19.59% from its current price.
• Barclays stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus price target of GBX 400.20.
• Recent insider activity included significant purchases of Barclays shares, totaling nearly £10,874.01 and £9,824.08 from two insiders on July 30th.

Barclays (LON:BARC - Free Report) had its price target upped by Royal Bank Of Canada from GBX 355 ($4.77) to GBX 435 ($5.85) in a research report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the financial services provider's stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Barclays to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the company from GBX 360 ($4.84) to GBX 366 ($4.92) in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 380 ($5.11) price objective on shares of Barclays in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Shore Capital lifted their target price on Barclays from GBX 395 ($5.31) to GBX 410 ($5.51) and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 400.20 ($5.38).

Barclays Price Performance

Shares of Barclays stock traded down GBX 2.90 ($0.04) during trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 362 ($4.87). The stock had a trading volume of 85,171,063 shares, compared to its average volume of 47,366,383. Barclays has a 12 month low of GBX 210.05 ($2.82) and a 12 month high of GBX 376.35 ($5.06). The firm's fifty day simple moving average is GBX 339.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 311.28. The stock has a market cap of £51.98 billion, a PE ratio of 10.64, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36.

Barclays (LON:BARC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported GBX 11.70 ($0.16) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Barclays had a return on equity of 6.97% and a net margin of 19.54%. Analysts expect that Barclays will post 39.1062802 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider C.S. Venkatakrishnan purchased 44,562 shares of Barclays stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 326 ($4.38) per share, with a total value of £145,272.12 ($195,363.26). Also, insider Dawn Fitzpatrick acquired 2,999 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 30th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 371 ($4.99) per share, for a total transaction of £11,126.29 ($14,962.74). Insiders have purchased a total of 98,837 shares of company stock valued at $33,407,827 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.47% of the company's stock.

About Barclays

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.