Unite Group (LON:UTG) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Key Points

• Unite Group shares fell 1.7% to GBX 442.20, reaching a new 52-week low during Wednesday trading.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of GBX 613.75, despite several recent target-price cuts.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of GBX 27.10, but recorded a negative 10.94% return on equity and a negative 143.81% net margin.

Unite Group PLC (LON:UTG - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday. The stock traded as low as GBX 442.20 and last traded at GBX 442.20, with a volume of 1440321 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 450.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on UTG. UBS Group restated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 585 target price on shares of Unite Group in a research report on Friday, July 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Unite Group from GBX 690 to GBX 640 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Citigroup lowered Unite Group to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the company from GBX 906 to GBX 579 in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Unite Group from GBX 600 to GBX 640 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on Unite Group from GBX 623 to GBX 668 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 613.75.

Unite Group Trading Down 1.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 46.65, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 23.17. The firm has a market capitalization of £2.27 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.94. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 499.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 497.66.

Unite Group (LON:UTG - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported GBX 27.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Unite Group had a negative return on equity of 10.94% and a negative net margin of 143.81%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Unite Group PLC will post 47.9341004 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Unite Group

Unite Students is the UK's largest owner, manager and developer of purpose-built student accommodation, serving the country's world-leading Higher Education sector. We provide homes to 70,000 students across 157 properties in 23 leading university towns and cities. We currently partner with over 60 universities across the UK. Our people are driven by a common purpose: to provide a 'Home for Success' for the students who live with us. Unite's accommodation is safe and secure, high quality and affordable.

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