Bodycote (LON:BOY) Sets New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Bodycote shares reached a new 52-week high of GBX 960, closing near that level at GBX 959.50 and valuing the company at approximately £1.63 billion.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from three Buy and three Hold ratings; however, the average price target of GBX 881.33 is below the current share price.
• Bodycote reported quarterly EPS of GBX 18.10, a 7.87% net margin and 9.30% return on equity. Its valuation includes a P/E ratio of 28.57, while the stock trades above both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages.

Bodycote plc (LON:BOY - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 960 and last traded at GBX 959.50, with a volume of 15802 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 953.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on BOY shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 960 target price on shares of Bodycote in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Berenberg Bank lifted their price target on Bodycote from GBX 900 to GBX 933 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, September 4th. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price target on shares of Bodycote from GBX 750 to GBX 950 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a GBX 900 price objective on shares of Bodycote in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Bodycote currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 881.33.

Bodycote Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of £1.63 billion, a PE ratio of 28.57, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.35. The firm's fifty day moving average price is GBX 837.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 747.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 35.03.

Bodycote (LON:BOY - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported GBX 18.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Bodycote had a net margin of 7.87% and a return on equity of 9.30%. On average, equities analysts predict that Bodycote plc will post 54.0540541 earnings per share for the current year.

About Bodycote

The leading provider of heat treatment and specialist thermal processing services worldwide. Heat treatment encompasses a variety of techniques and specialist engineering processes which improve the properties of metals and alloys and extend the life of components and is a vital part of any manufacturing process. Bodycote is uniquely placed via our global network and the experience and knowledge of our people to offer high quality, reliable and cost-effective services to manufacturers whatever their size or market sector.

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