Marks and Spencer Group (LON:MKS) Hits New 52-Week High - What's Next?

Key Points

• Marks and Spencer shares hit a new 52-week high at GBX 418.32 before last trading at GBX 409.40, despite being down 0.7% on the day.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive: six analysts rate the stock Buy and two Hold, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average target price of GBX 422.50. Recent targets range from GBX 390 to GBX 480.
• The retailer reported quarterly EPS of GBX 23.80 and revenue of GBX 1,727.36 billion, while insiders recently sold shares; corporate insiders own just 0.45% of the company.

Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as GBX 418.32 and last traded at GBX 409.40, with a volume of 1287705750 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 410.10.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on MKS shares. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Marks and Spencer Group from GBX 410 to GBX 390 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 435 target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Marks and Spencer Group to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from GBX 440 to GBX 450 in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Berenberg Bank lifted their price target on Marks and Spencer Group from GBX 415 to GBX 480 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Shore Capital Group reiterated a "house stock" rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 422.50.

Marks and Spencer Group Trading Down 0.7%

The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 111.89. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 377.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 365.21. The firm has a market cap of £8.36 billion, a PE ratio of 33.07, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.01.

Marks and Spencer Group (LON:MKS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 20th. The retailer reported GBX 23.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of GBX 1,727.36 billion for the quarter. Marks and Spencer Group had a net margin of 1.50% and a return on equity of 8.86%. Equities analysts forecast that Marks and Spencer Group plc will post 26.0113154 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Stuart Machin sold 560,402 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 384, for a total value of £2,151,943.68. Also, insider Alison Dolan sold 85,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 359, for a total transaction of £305,150. Corporate insiders own 0.45% 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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