Kier Group (LON:KIE) Shares Cross Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Kier Group shares rose above their 200-day moving average, reaching GBX 304.60 and last trading at GBX 299, compared with a 200-day average of GBX 234.93.
• Analyst sentiment is positive: four analysts rate the stock “Buy,” while Deutsche Bank and Berenberg raised their price targets to GBX 330 and GBX 370, respectively. The consensus target is GBX 300.
• Kier reported quarterly earnings of GBX 23.50 per share, with an 11.95% return on equity and a 1.42% net margin; however, the company carries high leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 360.81.

Shares of Kier Group plc (LON:KIE - Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 234.93 and traded as high as GBX 304.60. Kier Group shares last traded at GBX 299, with a volume of 99,927,258 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on KIE. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Kier Group from GBX 295 to GBX 330 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 15th. Berenberg Bank boosted their target price on shares of Kier Group from GBX 300 to GBX 370 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Kier Group presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 300.

Kier Group Trading Down 0.7%

The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 275.28 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 234.93. The company has a market capitalization of £1.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.15, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 360.81, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.90.

Kier Group (LON:KIE - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, September 15th. The company reported GBX 23.50 earnings per share for the quarter. Kier Group had a return on equity of 11.95% and a net margin of 1.42%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Kier Group plc will post 20.49 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kier Group Company Profile

Kier Group is a leading infrastructure services, construction and property group based in the UK. Our purpose is to sustainably deliver infrastructure which is vital to the UK with a vision is to be the UK's leading infrastructure services and construction company. We operate through three segments; Infrastructure Services, Construction and Property. Infrastructure Services comprises our Transportation and Natural Resources, Nuclear and Networks business. Transportation: builds and maintains roads for National Highways and a number of district and county councils as well as our rail, airports' infrastructure and ports' businesses. Natural Resources, Nuclear and Networks: delivers long-term contracts providing repairs, maintains and support capital projects to the water, energy, and telecommunications sectors. Construction — comprises of our Regional Building, Strategic Projects, Kier Places (Housing Maintenance and Facilities Management), and International businesses.

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