Jefferies Financial Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Croda International (LON:CRDA) Stock Price

Key Points

• Jefferies Financial Group has lowered its price target for Croda International from GBX 3,900 to GBX 3,200, suggesting a potential upside of 25.15% from the current price.
• Several analysts have altered their ratings and price targets for Croda, with a mix of upgrades and downgrades resulting in a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a price target of GBX 3,150.
• Insider transactions indicate confidence in the company, with executives purchasing over 11,000 shares worth nearly £30,000 in recent weeks.

Croda International (LON:CRDA - Get Free Report) had its price target lowered by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from GBX 3,900 to GBX 3,200 in a research note issued on Monday,Digital Look reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group's price target would suggest a potential upside of 25.15% from the company's current price.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on CRDA. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Croda International to an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. Berenberg Bank decreased their price target on shares of Croda International from GBX 3,800 to GBX 3,100 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on shares of Croda International from GBX 3,400 to GBX 3,000 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 3,150.

Croda International Stock Performance

Shares of CRDA opened at GBX 2,557 on Monday. Croda International has a one year low of GBX 2,426.77 and a one year high of GBX 4,335. The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 2,645.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 2,868.72. The stock has a market cap of £3.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,660.39, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 30.90, a current ratio of 2.72 and a quick ratio of 2.25.

Croda International (LON:CRDA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The company reported GBX 72.20 EPS for the quarter. Croda International had a net margin of 9.98% and a return on equity of 6.96%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Croda International will post 181.8307268 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Chris Good purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 6th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 2,633 per share, with a total value of £26,330. Also, insider Steve Foots bought 3,815 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 4th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 2,617 per share, with a total value of £99,838.55. Insiders have purchased a total of 11,343 shares of company stock worth $29,823,659 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.83% of the company's stock.

Croda International Company Profile

Founded in 1925 with the aim of turning bio-based raw materials into innovative ingredients, Croda International is a speciality chemicals company focused on consumer care and life sciences markets. The company is focused on creating, making and selling innovative ingredients that deliver real benefits to a diverse range of customers and employs more than 6,000 people around the world.

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