Rentokil Initial (LON:RTO) Stock Price Up 9.1% - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Rentokil Initial's stock price rose by 9.1% to GBX 377.98 ($4.99) after trading volume exceeded average levels, indicating strong investor interest.
• Analysts have upgraded their forecasts for Rentokil Initial, with Deutsche Bank setting a price target of GBX 435 ($5.75) and Royal Bank of Canada maintaining an "outperform" rating with a GBX 440 ($5.81) target.
• Insider buying activity was noted, as Sally Johnson acquired 3,567 shares at an average price of GBX 351 ($4.64), which reflects confidence from company insiders in the stock's future performance.

Rentokil Initial plc (LON:RTO - Get Free Report)'s stock price shot up 9.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 387.30 ($5.14) and last traded at GBX 377.98 ($5.02). 13,367,716 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 30% from the average session volume of 10,266,272 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 346.60 ($4.60).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on RTO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Rentokil Initial from GBX 425 ($5.64) to GBX 435 ($5.77) and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a GBX 440 ($5.84) price target on shares of Rentokil Initial in a report on Friday.

Rentokil Initial Trading Down 3.8%

The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 1.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 113.35. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 353.10 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 359.44. The company has a market capitalization of £9.14 billion, a PE ratio of 23.41, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.55.

Insider Transactions at Rentokil Initial

In other news, insider Sally Johnson bought 3,567 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 351 ($4.66) per share, with a total value of £12,520.17 ($16,618.22). Insiders own 0.32% of the company's stock.

Rentokil Initial Company Profile

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.