Croda International (LON:CRDA) Reaches New 12-Month High - Here's Why

Key Points

• Croda International shares reached a new 52-week high, rising 2.6% to GBX 3,525 after trading as high as GBX 3,543, with more than 1 million shares changing hands.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive, with three Buy ratings and two Holds giving the stock a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of GBX 3,490.
• The specialty chemicals company reported quarterly EPS of GBX 72.20, while analysts expect full-year EPS of GBX 181.83; insiders own 0.84% of the company, although one insider recently sold shares worth about £43,000.

Croda International Plc (LON:CRDA - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday. The stock traded as high as GBX 3,543 and last traded at GBX 3,525, with a volume of 1,086,830 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,417.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CRDA has been the topic of several analyst reports. Berenberg Bank reissued a "buy" rating and set a GBX 3,600 price objective on shares of Croda International in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 4,000 price objective on shares of Croda International in a research note on Friday, September 25th. Citigroup raised their price objective on Croda International from GBX 3,050 to GBX 3,200 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a GBX 3,300 target price on shares of Croda International in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Croda International has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 3,490.

Croda International Trading Up 2.6%

The firm has a market cap of £4.89 billion, a PE ratio of 61.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 2.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 36.06. The company's 50 day moving average price is GBX 3,295.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 3,075.73.

Croda International (LON:CRDA - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported GBX 72.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Croda International had a net margin of 4.61% and a return on equity of 3.65%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Croda International Plc will post 181.83 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Stephen Oxley sold 1,339 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 3,214, for a total value of £43,035.46. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 19 shares of company stock valued at $62,252. Corporate insiders own 0.84% of the company's stock.

About Croda International

Founded in 1925 with the aim of turning bio-based raw materials into innovative ingredients, Croda International is a speciality chemicals company focused on consumer care and life sciences markets. The company is focused on creating, making and selling innovative ingredients that deliver real benefits to a diverse range of customers and employs more than 6,000 people around the world. Sustainability is a core part of the Groups strategy with a commitment to be Climate, Land and People positive by 2030.

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