Kier Group (LON:KIE) Stock Price Up 7.6% Following Analyst Upgrade

Key Points

• Kier Group plc shares surged 7.6% to GBX 206.61, with a trading volume of over 20 million shares, significantly higher than the average.
• Berenberg Bank increased their price target for Kier Group from GBX 210 to GBX 225, maintaining a "buy" rating for the stock.
• Kier Group reported a quarterly earnings per share of GBX 21.60, with a net margin of 1.09% and an anticipated EPS of 20.49 for the current fiscal year.

Kier Group plc (LON:KIE - Get Free Report) shot up 7.6% during mid-day trading on Tuesday after Berenberg Bank raised their price target on the stock from GBX 225 to GBX 240. Berenberg Bank currently has a buy rating on the stock. Kier Group traded as high as GBX 210.50 ($2.84) and last traded at GBX 206.61 ($2.78). 20,363,898 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 654% from the average session volume of 2,701,887 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 192 ($2.59).

Insider Activity at Kier Group

In other news, insider Simon Kesterton sold 350,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 204, for a total value of £714,000. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Kier Group Trading Down 1.4%

The firm has a market capitalization of £924.23 million, a P/E ratio of 2,236.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 302.83. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is GBX 199.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 170.57.

Kier Group (LON:KIE - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, September 16th. The company reported GBX 21.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Kier Group had a net margin of 1.09% and a return on equity of 8.23%. Analysts anticipate that Kier Group plc will post 20.4913295 EPS for the current year.

Kier Group Company Profile

Kier Group is a leading infrastructure services, construction and property group based in the UK. Our purpose is to sustainably deliver infrastructure which is vital to the UK with a vision is to be the UK's leading infrastructure services and construction company. We operate through three segments; Infrastructure Services, Construction and Property.