United Utilities Group (LON:UU) Share Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• United Utilities shares crossed above their 200-day moving average, reaching GBX 1,443 before closing at GBX 1,436 on trading volume of about 1.34 million shares.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: two analysts rate the stock a Buy and five rate it Hold, producing a consensus Hold rating and an average price target of GBX 1,435.71.
• The company has a £9.69 billion market capitalization and substantial leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 512.65; insider Phil Aspin also sold 24,566 shares for approximately £321,000.

United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 1,333.78 and traded as high as GBX 1,443. United Utilities Group shares last traded at GBX 1,436, with a volume of 1,338,034 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on UU shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on United Utilities Group from GBX 1,450 to GBX 1,550 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded United Utilities Group to a "sector perform" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from GBX 1,450 to GBX 1,550 in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on United Utilities Group from £152.50 to GBX 1,340 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 16th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on United Utilities Group from GBX 1,320 to GBX 1,350 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on United Utilities Group from GBX 1,300 to GBX 1,450 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, April 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of GBX 1,435.71.

United Utilities Group Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of £9.69 billion, a PE ratio of 76.38, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.58. The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 1,339.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 1,333.78. The company has a current ratio of 2.55, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 512.65.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Phil Aspin sold 24,566 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,306, for a total transaction of £320,831.96. Insiders own 0.05% of the company's stock.

About United Utilities Group

United Utilities Group PLC provides water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It is involved in the renewable energy generation, corporate trustee, financing, and property management activities; and provision of consulting, and project management services. The company operates 43,000 kilometers of water pipes; and 79,000 kilometers of wastewater pipes. United Utilities Group PLC was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Warrington, the United Kingdom.

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