Diploma (LON:DPLM) Hits New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Key Points

• Diploma shares reached a new 52-week high of GBX 7,720, up from the prior close of GBX 7,675, with trading volume of about 650,192 shares.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with five Buy ratings and three Holds producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus. However, the average price target of GBX 7,044.29 is below the current share price, while Berenberg’s target stands at GBX 9,000.
• The company reported quarterly revenue of £851.1 million and earnings of GBX 74.70 per share; insiders also purchased shares recently, including 1,424 shares bought by two executives.

Diploma PLC (LON:DPLM - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 7,720 and last traded at GBX 7,720, with a volume of 650192 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 7,675.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on DPLM. Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 9,000 price target on shares of Diploma in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Diploma from GBX 6,400 to GBX 7,200 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 20th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Diploma from GBX 7,300 to GBX 7,400 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "hold" rating and set a GBX 7,000 price target on shares of Diploma in a report on Friday, May 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 7,044.29.

Diploma Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of £10.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.87, a PEG ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.92. The firm's 50-day moving average price is GBX 7,128.68 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 6,423.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 47.65, a current ratio of 2.06 and a quick ratio of 0.80.

Diploma (LON:DPLM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 19th. The company reported GBX 74.70 earnings per share for the quarter. Diploma had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 9.42%.The firm had revenue of £851.10 million during the quarter. Sell-side analysts expect that Diploma PLC will post 163.7995512 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other Diploma news, insider Wilson Ng bought 424 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 7,066 per share, with a total value of £29,959.84. Also, insider Mandy Gradden purchased 1,000 shares of Diploma stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 17th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 7,183 per share, for a total transaction of £71,830. In the last ninety days, insiders bought 1,781 shares of company stock worth $12,638,928. 1.14% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Diploma Company Profile

Diploma PLC, together with its subsidiaries, supplies specialized technical products and services in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America, and internationally. It operates through three business sectors: Life Sciences, Seals, and Controls. The Life Sciences sector supplies technology-enabled products used in surgical procedures in operating theatres and endoscopy; testing equipment and services for clinical laboratories; and bio-pharma, food safety and testing, and other research-oriented products.

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