Wickes Group (LON:WIX) Stock Price Up 0.3% - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Wickes shares rose 0.3% to GBX 200.50, though trading volume was about 80% below the daily average.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average target price of GBX 243; ratings range from Deutsche Bank’s GBX 165 “Sell” to Shore Capital’s GBX 280 “Buy.”
• The company reported quarterly EPS of GBX 9.60, a 2.23% net margin and 30.64% return on equity, but carries a very high debt-to-equity ratio of 638.77.

Shares of Wickes Group plc (LON:WIX - Get Free Report) were up 0.3% during trading on Wednesday. The company traded as high as GBX 205 and last traded at GBX 200.50. Approximately 334,067 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 1,666,918 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 200.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently weighed in on WIX. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "sell" rating and set a GBX 165 target price on shares of Wickes Group in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Shore Capital Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 280 price target on shares of Wickes Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Berenberg Bank restated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 265 price target on shares of Wickes Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price target on shares of Wickes Group from GBX 265 to GBX 260 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Wickes Group from GBX 227 to GBX 210 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 243.

Wickes Group Stock Up 0.3%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 638.77, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The company has a market cap of £439.61 million, a PE ratio of 12.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 195.58 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 194.10.

Wickes Group (LON:WIX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, September 15th. The company reported GBX 9.60 earnings per share for the quarter. Wickes Group had a net margin of 2.23% and a return on equity of 30.64%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Wickes Group plc will post 16.2278978 EPS for the current year.

Wickes Group Company Profile

Wickes is a digitally-led, service-enabled home improvement retailer, delivering choice, convenience, value and best-in-class service to customers across the United Kingdom, making it well placed to outperform its growing markets. In response to gradual structural shifts in its markets over recent years, Wickes has a balanced business focusing on three key customer journeys - TradePro, DIY (together reported as Retail) and our project-based Design & Installation division. Wickes operates from its network of 230 stores, which support nationwide fulfilment from convenient locations throughout the United Kingdom, and through its digital channels including its website, TradePro mobile app for trade members, and Wickes DIY app.

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