QinetiQ Group (LON:QQ) Stock Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

QinetiQ Group plc (LON:QQ - Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 422.61 ($5.80) and traded as high as GBX 482 ($6.61). QinetiQ Group shares last traded at GBX 474.80 ($6.52), with a volume of 2,484,227 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

QQ has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Shore Capital reissued a "hold" rating on shares of QinetiQ Group in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays increased their price objective on QinetiQ Group from GBX 535 ($7.34) to GBX 570 ($7.82) and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised their price objective on QinetiQ Group from GBX 500 ($6.86) to GBX 570 ($7.82) and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd.

QinetiQ Group Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.96, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The company has a market cap of £2.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.10, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.48. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 456.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 422.61.

QinetiQ Group (LON:QQ - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 22nd. The company reported GBX 26.10 ($0.36) earnings per share for the quarter. QinetiQ Group had a net margin of 7.03% and a return on equity of 14.98%. As a group, analysts predict that QinetiQ Group plc will post 26.1405108 EPS for the current fiscal year.

QinetiQ Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 10th were given a GBX 7.72 ($0.11) dividend. This is an increase from QinetiQ Group's previous dividend of $2.80. This represents a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 10th. QinetiQ Group's payout ratio is currently 33.13%.

Insider Activity at QinetiQ Group

In related news, insider Steve Wadey sold 75,060 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 517 ($7.09), for a total transaction of £388,060.20 ($532,537.67). Company 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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