Centrica (LON:CNA) Hits New 12-Month Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Centrica shares fell to a new 52-week low of GBX 150.95, below the 50-day and 200-day moving averages, amid heavy trading.
• Analysts remain broadly positive despite recent target cuts: five rate the stock Buy and one Hold, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of GBX 216.33.
• Recent results showed quarterly EPS of GBX 6.80, while insiders purchased shares worth approximately $846,283 over the past 90 days, signaling some insider confidence.

Centrica plc (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 150.95 and last traded at GBX 151.15, with a volume of 191272797 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 152.40.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a "hold" rating and set a GBX 210 price target on shares of Centrica in a research note on Friday, May 8th. Berenberg Bank cut their price objective on Centrica from GBX 230 to GBX 200 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a GBX 225 target price on shares of Centrica in a report on Monday, May 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Centrica from GBX 245 to GBX 235 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 216.33.

Centrica Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of £6.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 80.68, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 1.43. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is GBX 162.77 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 186.21.

Centrica (LON:CNA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 23rd. The integrated energy company reported GBX 6.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Centrica had a return on equity of 21.92% and a net margin of 3.64%.

Insider Activity at Centrica

In other Centrica news, insider Sue Whalley purchased 600 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, July 27th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 162 per share, with a total value of £972. Also, insider Frank Mastiaux purchased 1,448 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 25th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 155 per share, with a total value of £2,244.40. In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 5,164 shares of company stock valued at $846,283. 0.39% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Centrica

Centrica is energising a greener, fairer future for our colleagues, customers and communities. Our integrated business operates across the energy value chain, with over ten million Retail customers, leading brands such as British Gas and Bord Gáis Energy, and the UK's largest energy services workforce. Our Infrastructure businesses bring gas and electricity to the market every day and provide more than half of the UK's gas storage capacity, while our Optimisation business delivers world-class procurement and route-to-market capabilities to the Group and third parties, supporting energy security and our customers' decarbonisation journeys.

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