Centrica (LON:CNA) Hits New 52-Week High - What's Next?

Key Points

• 52-week high: Centrica shares reached a new 52-week high of GBX 215.60, last trading at GBX 210.40 on heavy volume (~102.3M shares).
• Analyst upgrades: Citigroup raised its price target to GBX 218 (buy) and RBC to GBX 215 (outperform), leaving a consensus rating of Moderate Buy with an average target of GBX 202.40.
• Insider and fundamentals caution: CEO Chris O'Shea sold 327,270 shares at GBX 200 while insiders made smaller purchases, and the company shows high leverage (debt-to-equity 98.77) and a negative PE (-142.87), suggesting valuation/earnings risks.

Centrica plc (LON:CNA - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 215.60 and last traded at GBX 210.40, with a volume of 102327828 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 212.50.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup increased their price target on Centrica from GBX 200 to GBX 218 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Centrica from GBX 200 to GBX 215 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 202.40.

Centrica Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 98.77, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 1.45. The stock's 50-day moving average is GBX 195.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 179.93. The stock has a market cap of £9.69 billion, a PE ratio of -142.87, a PEG ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.48.

Centrica (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 20th. The integrated energy company reported GBX 11.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Centrica had a return on equity of 1.68% and a net margin of 0.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Frank Mastiaux acquired 1,321 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 25th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 198 per share, for a total transaction of £2,615.58. Also, insider Chris O’Shea sold 327,270 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 200, for a total value of £654,540. In the last three months, insiders acquired 11,328 shares of company stock valued at $2,152,763 and sold 1,273,167 shares valued at $254,633,400. Corporate insiders own 0.39% of the company's stock.

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. Our Infrastructure businesses bring gas and electricity to the market every day and provide more than half of the UK's gas storage capacity, while our Optimisation business delivers world-class procurement and route-to-market capabilities to the Group and third parties, supporting energy security and our customers' decarbonisation journeys.

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