QinetiQ Group (LON:QQ) Stock Breaks Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• QinetiQ shares moved above their 200-day moving average, reaching GBX 492.60 and last trading at GBX 489.20, compared with a 200-day average of GBX 478.45.
• Analyst sentiment is generally positive, with three Buy ratings and two Holds, producing a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating. Price targets were raised by several firms, including Berenberg to GBX 610 and RBC to GBX 570.
• Company insiders purchased 9,328 shares worth approximately £5.1 million over the past 90 days, while insiders collectively own 12.14% of QinetiQ’s stock.

Shares of QinetiQ Group plc (LON:QQ - Get Free Report) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 478.45 and traded as high as GBX 492.60. QinetiQ Group shares last traded at GBX 489.20, with a volume of 575,221 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on QQ. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a GBX 487 target price on shares of QinetiQ Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 600 target price on shares of QinetiQ Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 1st. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of QinetiQ Group from GBX 5,690 to GBX 6,050 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of QinetiQ Group from GBX 490 to GBX 570 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their price objective on shares of QinetiQ Group from GBX 580 to GBX 610 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, QinetiQ Group currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 1,663.40.

QinetiQ Group Stock Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 509.35 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 478.45. The stock has a market cap of £2.67 billion, a PE ratio of 20.01, a P/E/G ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 74.20.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Steve Wadey purchased 145 shares of QinetiQ Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 542 per share, for a total transaction of £785.90. Also, insider Steven L. Mogford purchased 9,092 shares of QinetiQ Group stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 546 per share, for a total transaction of £49,642.32. Insiders acquired a total of 9,328 shares of company stock valued at $5,087,823 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 12.14% of the company's stock.

QinetiQ Group Company Profile

QinetiQ Group plc operates as a science and engineering company in the defense, security, and infrastructure markets in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and internationally. The company operates through EMEA Services and Global Solutions segments. It offers advanced materials and manufacturing products; artificial intelligence, analytics, and advanced computing technologies; cyber and electromagnetic technologies; human protection and performance systems; novel systems, and weapons and effects; platform, and system design and assessment products; power sources, and energy storage and distribution products; robotics and autonomy services; secure communications and navigation systems; and sensing, processing, and data fusion systems.

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