Smiths Group (LON:SMIN) Stock Breaks Above 50-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Smiths Group shares moved above their 50-day moving average, reaching GBX 2,670 and closing at GBX 2,667, with unusually high trading volume of 105.5 million shares.
• Analyst sentiment is positive overall, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of GBX 2,910. Berenberg and JPMorgan recently raised their targets to GBX 3,200 and GBX 3,100, respectively.
• The company reported quarterly earnings of GBX 49.50 per share and maintains strong profitability metrics, including a 92.97% return on equity and a 101.70% net margin; however, an insider recently sold shares while another purchased stock.

Smiths Group plc (LON:SMIN - Get Free Report)'s share price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 2,657.63 and traded as high as GBX 2,670. Smiths Group shares last traded at GBX 2,667, with a volume of 105,490,820 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on SMIN shares. Berenberg Bank increased their target price on Smiths Group from GBX 3,000 to GBX 3,200 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Smiths Group from GBX 2,810 to GBX 3,100 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a GBX 2,750 price objective on shares of Smiths Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and set a GBX 2,500 price objective on shares of Smiths Group in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. Four 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, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 2,910.

Smiths Group Price Performance

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 2,657.63 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 2,565.59. The company has a market capitalization of £7.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 2.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 46.28.

Smiths Group (LON:SMIN - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, September 22nd. The company reported GBX 49.50 earnings per share for the quarter. Smiths Group had a return on equity of 92.97% and a net margin of 101.70%. As a group, research analysts predict that Smiths Group plc will post 85.13 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Smiths Group

In other Smiths Group news, insider Laurence Mulliez acquired 702 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, September 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 2,831 per share, for a total transaction of £19,873.62. Also, insider Julian Fagge sold 26,686 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,668, for a total transaction of £711,982.48. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Smiths Group

For 175 years, we have been pioneers of progress, engineering a better future. Our strategy is to be a focused, efficient and value creating industrial engineering company operating in the attractive and growing market segments of flow control, thermal solutions, construction and aerospace. We focus on solving the toughest problems for our customers, helping address critical global needs such as decarbonisation and the ever-increasing demand for process and energy efficiency. We are pioneers of progress.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.