Mears Group (LON:MER) Stock Price Passes Below 200 Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Mears Group's share price has fallen below its 200-day moving average, currently trading at GBX 333 ($4.48) compared to the average of GBX 372.42 ($5.01).
• Analysts have varying price targets for Mears Group, with Peel Hunt setting a target of GBX 440 and Deutsche Bank increasing their target from GBX 500 to GBX 510, both maintaining a "buy" rating.
• Insiders have shown confidence in the company, with two executives acquiring a total of 16,500 shares at prices ranging from GBX 349 to GBX 382.

Mears Group plc (LON:MER - Get Free Report)'s share price passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 372.42 ($5.01) and traded as low as GBX 327.50 ($4.40). Mears Group shares last traded at GBX 333 ($4.48), with a volume of 179,445 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently commented on MER. Peel Hunt reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a GBX 440 target price on shares of Mears Group in a research note on Monday, September 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on Mears Group from GBX 500 to GBX 510 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of GBX 475.

Mears Group Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of £274.42 million, a P/E ratio of 623.36, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 1.26. The firm has a 50 day moving average of GBX 335.82 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 372.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 139.90.

Mears Group (LON:MER - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported GBX 28.62 EPS for the quarter. Mears Group had a return on equity of 21.83% and a net margin of 3.67%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Mears Group plc will post 32.5150732 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Andrew C. M. Smith acquired 6,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 7th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 382 per share, with a total value of £24,830. Also, insider Jim Clarke bought 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 28th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 349 per share, for a total transaction of £34,900. Corporate insiders own 1.55% of the company's stock.

Mears Group Company Profile

Mears Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides various outsourced services to the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom. The company offers rapid-response and planned maintenance services to local authorities; gas and repair services; and maintenance and repairs, capital works, energy investment, and regeneration solutions for public buildings, as well as grounds maintenance services.

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