Citigroup Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Marks and Spencer Group (LON:MKS) Stock Price

Key Points

• Citigroup cut its target price for Marks and Spencer from GBX 4,350 to GBX 430 but kept a "buy" rating, with the new target implying roughly a 26.88% upside from the previous close.
• Analyst consensus is a Moderate Buy (six Buys, two Holds) with an average price target of GBX 416.43, supported by firms including Jefferies, Berenberg and JPMorgan.
• MKS traded at GBX 338.90 on Thursday on unusually heavy volume, an insider (Stuart Machin) sold 150,000 shares at GBX 404, and the company shows a market cap of £6.83bn, a very high P/E (376.56) and elevated debt-to-equity (121.22).

Marks and Spencer Group (LON:MKS - Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by equities research analysts at Citigroup from GBX 4,350 to GBX 430 in a report issued on Thursday,London Stock Exchange reports. The firm presently has a "buy" rating on the retailer's stock. Citigroup's target price points to a potential upside of 26.88% from the stock's previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Shore Capital Group reaffirmed a "house stock" rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 440 price objective on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research report on Tuesday, March 10th. Berenberg Bank upgraded Marks and Spencer Group to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the stock from GBX 412 to GBX 415 in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Friday, January 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marks and Spencer Group has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 416.43.

Marks and Spencer Group Price Performance

MKS traded down GBX 17.80 on Thursday, hitting GBX 338.90. 623,665,750 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 45,271,680. The firm has a market capitalization of £6.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 376.56, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 121.22, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.42. Marks and Spencer Group has a 12 month low of GBX 315.30 and a 12 month high of GBX 417.80. The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 374.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 362.09.

Insider Activity at Marks and Spencer Group

In other news, insider Stuart Machin sold 150,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 404, for a total value of £606,000. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Marks and Spencer Group Company Profile

M&S has a heritage of quality, innovation and value for money and has been voted the UK's most trusted brand. From these foundations, M&S is reshaping for sustainable profitable growth and value creation. We operate as a family of businesses, selling high-quality, great-value, own-brand products and services, alongside a carefully selected range of third-party brands. We do this through a network of stores and websites globally, and together, across our stores, support centres, warehouses and supply chain, our 65,000 colleagues serve over 30 million customers each year.

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