Centrica plc (LON:CNA) Stock Now Rated "Moderate Buy" by Wall Street Analysts

Key Points

• Centrica has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from six analysts, with five buys and one hold; the average 12-month price target is GBX 216.33.
• Berenberg lowered its price target from GBX 230 to GBX 200 but maintained a buy rating. Centrica shares opened at GBX 148.95, near their 52-week low of GBX 144.
• Insiders purchased 209,870 shares worth approximately £31.1 million over the past 90 days, including significant purchases by Frank Mastiaux and Russell O’Brien.

Shares of Centrica plc (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the six brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 216.33.

Separately, Berenberg Bank reduced their price objective on Centrica from GBX 230 to GBX 200 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th.

Insider Activity at Centrica

In related news, insider Frank Mastiaux acquired 1,506 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 25th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 149 per share, for a total transaction of £2,243.94. Also, insider Russell O'Brien acquired 67,394 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 21st. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 148 per share, for a total transaction of £99,743.12. Over the last ninety days, insiders purchased 209,870 shares of company stock worth $31,105,515. 0.22% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Centrica Price Performance

Centrica stock opened at GBX 148.95 on Monday. Centrica has a 52 week low of GBX 144 and a 52 week high of GBX 220.30. The company's 50 day moving average price is GBX 152.44 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 178.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 80.68. The stock has a market cap of £6.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.32.

Centrica (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) last released 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 return on equity of 21.92% and a net margin of 3.64%.

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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