Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Marks and Spencer Group has a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating from eight brokerages: six recommend buying the shares, while two rate them a hold.
• Analysts’ average 12-month price target is GBX 432.50, with recent targets ranging from GBX 435 to GBX 480; Citigroup and JPMorgan recently raised their targets.
• The shares opened at GBX 355.30, below their 50-day average of GBX 388.17, while insider Stuart Machin sold 560,402 shares for approximately £2.15 million.

Shares of Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the eight brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 432.50.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MKS shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and set a GBX 435 price objective on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 480 price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Thursday. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group from GBX 390 to GBX 470 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Shore Capital Group restated a "house stock" rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Marks and Spencer Group to an "overweight" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from GBX 440 to GBX 450 in a report on Tuesday, July 21st.

Marks and Spencer Group Price Performance

Shares of Marks and Spencer Group stock opened at GBX 355.30 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 388.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 366.08. The stock has a market capitalization of £7.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.89, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 111.89. Marks and Spencer Group has a 1-year low of GBX 301.10 and a 1-year high of GBX 418.32.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marks and Spencer Group

In related news, insider Stuart Machin sold 560,402 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 384, for a total value of £2,151,943.68. Insiders own 0.47% 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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