Centrica plc (LON:CNA) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Centrica has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating: five of six analysts rate the stock a buy, while one recommends holding it. The average 12-month price target is GBX 216.33, well above the reported GBX 151.60 opening price.
• Recent analysts lowered their targets but remained positive: Berenberg cut its target to GBX 200 and JPMorgan reduced its target to GBX 235, with both maintaining buy-equivalent ratings.
• Centrica reported quarterly EPS of GBX 6.80, a 3.64% net margin and 21.92% return on equity. Insiders have also purchased 5,002 shares over the past 90 days.

Centrica plc (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the six ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 216.33.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on CNA. Berenberg Bank cut their target price on shares of Centrica from GBX 230 to GBX 200 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Centrica from GBX 245 to GBX 235 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 15th.

Centrica Stock Performance

LON CNA opened at GBX 151.60 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 80.68, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.40. Centrica has a 1-year low of GBX 146.79 and a 1-year high of GBX 220.30. The firm has a market capitalization of £6.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.04, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.32. The business's 50-day simple moving average is GBX 160.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 184.40.

Centrica (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The integrated energy company reported GBX 6.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Centrica had a net margin of 3.64% and a return on equity of 21.92%.

Insider Transactions at Centrica

In related news, insider Sue Whalley purchased 600 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 27th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 162 per share, for a total transaction of £972. Also, insider Frank Mastiaux acquired 1,448 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 25th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 155 per share, with a total value of £2,244.40. In the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 5,002 shares of company stock worth $816,151. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Centrica

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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