UBS Group Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA) Stock

Key Points

• UBS Group has raised its price target for Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA) from $10.60 to $11.80, indicating a potential upside of 6.83% from the current stock price.
• Liberty Global reported a significant earnings miss for the last quarter, with an EPS of ($8.09), falling short of estimates by ($7.54), but achieved revenues of $1.27 billion against expectations of $1.20 billion.
• The majority of research analysts currently rate Liberty Global as a "Hold," with a consensus target price of $14.26, while two analysts have given it a buy rating.

Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA - Get Free Report) had its price objective raised by UBS Group from $10.60 to $11.80 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a "neutral" rating on the stock. UBS Group's price target would suggest a potential upside of 6.74% from the stock's previous close.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Liberty Global from $13.00 to $11.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Barclays set a $11.00 price target on shares of Liberty Global and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Berenberg Bank raised Liberty Global to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Benchmark reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $21.00 target price (up from $18.00) on shares of Liberty Global in a report on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $14.26.

Liberty Global Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:LBTYA traded up $0.16 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $11.06. The stock had a trading volume of 311,028 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,103,497. The company's 50-day moving average price is $10.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $10.57. Liberty Global has a fifty-two week low of $9.02 and a fifty-two week high of $21.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The company has a market capitalization of $3.82 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.13 and a beta of 1.13.

Liberty Global (NASDAQ:LBTYA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 1st. The company reported ($8.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.55) by ($7.54). The firm had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.20 billion. Liberty Global had a negative net margin of 60.38% and a negative return on equity of 22.64%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Liberty Global will post -1.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Liberty Global

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Liberty Global by 81.5% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,285 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 1,026 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Liberty Global by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 30,107 shares of the company's stock valued at $301,000 after purchasing an additional 1,153 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in Liberty Global by 11.8% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 20,163 shares of the company's stock worth $232,000 after purchasing an additional 2,123 shares in the last quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Liberty Global by 10.8% in the first quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 24,657 shares of the company's stock worth $284,000 after purchasing an additional 2,406 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Liberty Global by 7.3% in the second quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 37,035 shares of the company's stock worth $379,000 after purchasing an additional 2,505 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 37.20% of the company's stock.

About Liberty Global

Liberty Global Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides broadband internet, video, fixed-line telephony, and mobile communications services to residential and business customers. It offers value-added broadband services, such as WiFi features, security, anti-virus, firewall, spam protection, smart home services, online storage solutions, and web spaces; and Connect Box that delivers in-home Wi-Fi service.