Rentokil Initial (LON:RTO) Hits New 12-Month Low - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Rentokil Initial shares hit a new 52-week low, trading as low as GBX 312.60 on heavy volume before last trading at GBX 315.20.
• Analysts have recently lowered several price targets, but the overall view remains positive: five analysts rate the stock Buy, two Hold, and one Sell, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and a GBX 455.75 average target.
• The stock is trading below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, while the company has a £7.91 billion market capitalization, a 16.67 price-to-earnings ratio, and debt-to-equity of 110.37.

Shares of Rentokil Initial plc (LON:RTO - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 312.60 and last traded at GBX 315.20, with a volume of 45951262 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 323.10.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on RTO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on shares of Rentokil Initial from GBX 465 to GBX 405 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Rentokil Initial from GBX 477 to GBX 431 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a GBX 480 price target on shares of Rentokil Initial in a research report on Friday, September 18th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Rentokil Initial from GBX 575 to GBX 550 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 550 target price on shares of Rentokil Initial in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 455.75.

Rentokil Initial Stock Performance

The firm's 50 day simple moving average is GBX 363.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 429.76. The firm has a market cap of £7.91 billion, a PE ratio of 16.67, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 110.37.

About Rentokil Initial

Rentokil Initial plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides route-based services in North America, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and internationally. It offers a range of pest control services for rodents, and flying and crawling insects, as well as other forms of wildlife management for commercial customers. The company provides hygiene services, including the provision and maintenance of products, such as soap and hand sanitizer dispensers, hand dryers, air care and purification, cubicle and surface sanitizers, feminine hygiene units, toilet paper dispensers, and floor protection mats.

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