Marshalls (LON:MSLH) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Marshalls plc reached a new 52-week low of GBX 169.80 during trading, closing slightly higher at GBX 173.60, amid a trading volume of nearly 1.82 million shares.
• Several analysts have revised price targets for Marshalls, with Royal Bank of Canada decreasing their target to GBX 240, while Deutsche Bank maintained a bullish outlook with a target of GBX 420.
• Insider trading activity showed confidence as two insiders purchased shares at an average price around GBX 206 in early August.

Marshalls plc (LON:MSLH - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 169.80 ($2.32) and last traded at GBX 173.60 ($2.37), with a volume of 1816992 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 171.80 ($2.35).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently weighed in on MSLH. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 420 price target on shares of Marshalls in a report on Monday, July 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Marshalls from GBX 370 to GBX 240 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Peel Hunt reiterated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 290 price objective on shares of Marshalls in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 360 price objective on shares of Marshalls in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 327.50.

Marshalls Trading Down 0.5%

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 206.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 244. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.19, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.86. The company has a market capitalization of £440.47 million, a PE ratio of 1,853.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 1.26.

Marshalls (LON:MSLH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 11th. The company reported GBX 6.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Marshalls had a return on equity of 3.32% and a net margin of 3.46%. Analysts anticipate that Marshalls plc will post 18.2342758 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Justin Lockwood purchased 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 11th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 203 per share, for a total transaction of £10,150. Also, insider Matt Pullen purchased 7,734 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 206 per share, with a total value of £15,932.04. 1.05% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Marshalls

Established in the late 1880s, Marshalls plc is a leading UK manufacturer of sustainable solutions for the built environment. It operates through three trading divisions: Landscape Products; Roofing Products; and Building Products. At a Group, divisional and brand level, Marshalls' strategy centres around its customers who value its unique set of capabilities, namely leading brands, best in class technical and design support and carbon leadership.