Marks and Spencer Group (LON:MKS) Shares Break Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Marks and Spencer shares broke above their 200-day moving average, reaching GBX 389.90 before closing at GBX 385.80, up 2.6%.
• Analyst sentiment is positive: six analysts rate the stock a Buy and two rate it Hold, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of GBX 432.50.
• The stock’s financial metrics include a £7.98 billion market capitalization, a P/E ratio of 31.37, and relatively high debt, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 111.89.

Shares of Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS - Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 367.08 and traded as high as GBX 389.90. Marks and Spencer Group shares last traded at GBX 385.80, with a volume of 7,175,670 shares.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Shore Capital Group reaffirmed a "house stock" rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. Berenberg Bank reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 480 target price on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research report on Thursday, September 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Marks and Spencer Group to an "overweight" rating and upped their target price for the company from GBX 440 to GBX 450 in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a GBX 435 price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group from GBX 390 to GBX 470 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 432.50.

Marks and Spencer Group Stock Up 2.6%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 111.89. The company has a market cap of £7.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 386.54 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 367.08.

Marks and Spencer Group Company Profile

M&S has a heritage of quality, innovation and value for money and has been voted the UK's most trusted brand. From these foundations, M&S is reshaping for sustainable profitable growth and value creation. We operate as a family of businesses, selling high-quality, great-value, own-brand products and services, alongside a carefully selected range of third-party brands. We do this through a network of stores and websites globally, and together, across our stores, support centres, warehouses and supply chain, our 65,000 colleagues serve over 30 million customers each year.

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