M.P. Evans Group (LON:MPE) Sets New 1-Year High - Should You Buy?

Shares of M.P. Evans Group PLC (LON:MPE - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1,130 ($15.22) and last traded at GBX 1,120.61 ($15.09), with a volume of 2590 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,110 ($14.95).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 1,500 ($20.20) price target on shares of M.P. Evans Group in a research note on Thursday, April 17th.

M.P. Evans Group Stock Up 1.4%

The company has a market capitalization of £730.26 million, a P/E ratio of 11.33 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.89. The stock's fifty day moving average is GBX 1,029.60 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 1,013.70.

M.P. Evans Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 24th were paid a dividend of GBX 37.50 ($0.50) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.64%. This is an increase from M.P. Evans Group's previous dividend of $15.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 24th. M.P. Evans Group's dividend payout ratio is 48.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Matthew Coulson sold 6,448 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 984 ($13.25), for a total transaction of £63,448.32 ($85,440.78). 48.63% of the stock is owned by insiders.

M.P. Evans Group Company Profile

M.P. Evans Group PLC is a responsible producer of certified sustainable crude palm oil (“CPO”), with plantations in five Indonesian provinces: Aceh, Bangka Belitung, East Kalimantan, North Sumatra and South Sumatra. Headquartered in the UK, the Group's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”).

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