Barclays (LON:BARC) Hits New 12-Month High - Should You Buy?

Barclays PLC (LON:BARC - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 346.75 ($4.65) and last traded at GBX 343.35 ($4.61), with a volume of 22177096 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 344 ($4.62).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BARC has been the subject of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Barclays from GBX 370 ($4.97) to GBX 410 ($5.50) and gave the stock a "top pick" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 25th. Shore Capital reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Barclays in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Barclays from GBX 340 ($4.56) to GBX 355 ($4.76) and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 366.25 ($4.91).

Barclays Trading Up 2.0%

The stock's fifty day moving average is GBX 327.48 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 301.44. The company has a market capitalization of £50.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.36.

Barclays (LON:BARC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported GBX 13 ($0.17) EPS for the quarter. Barclays had a net margin of 19.54% and a return on equity of 6.97%. On average, analysts expect that Barclays PLC will post 39.1062802 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Barclays

In related news, insider Anna Cross acquired 27,898 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 326 ($4.37) per share, for a total transaction of £90,947.48 ($122,044.39). Also, insider C.S. Venkatakrishnan acquired 44,562 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 20th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 326 ($4.37) per share, with a total value of £145,272.12 ($194,943.80). 1.47% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.