Wickes Group plc (LON:WIX) Receives Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts give Wickes a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” (4 buys, 1 hold, 1 sell) with an average 12‑month target of GBX 249.17 and several brokers (Jefferies, Canaccord, Berenberg) recently raising price targets.
• Key financials: market cap £443.33m, PE 12.01 and PEG 0.79 with strong ROE (29.52%) but a low net margin (2.35%) and very high debt‑to‑equity of 551.57, indicating leverage risk despite solid profitability metrics.
• Insider activity: two insiders sold large parcels on April 8 (totaling about £1.28m), and insiders now own just 0.39% of the company.

Shares of Wickes Group plc (LON:WIX - Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the six analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has given a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 249.17.

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Wickes Group from GBX 200 to GBX 227 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 280 price target on shares of Wickes Group in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. Shore Capital Group reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Wickes Group in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on shares of Wickes Group from GBX 275 to GBX 278 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Wickes Group from GBX 250 to GBX 265 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 19th.

Wickes Group Stock Performance

Shares of LON:WIX opened at GBX 197 on Monday. The company's 50 day moving average price is GBX 220.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 225.99. Wickes Group has a 12-month low of GBX 187 and a 12-month high of GBX 255. The firm has a market cap of £443.33 million, a PE ratio of 12.01, a PEG ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 551.57.

Wickes Group (LON:WIX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported GBX 17.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Wickes Group had a net margin of 2.35% and a return on equity of 29.52%. Equities research analysts predict that Wickes Group will post 16.2278978 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Wickes Group

In related news, insider Mark George sold 223,433 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 220, for a total transaction of £491,552.60. Also, insider David Wood sold 355,050 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 223, for a total transaction of £791,761.50. Company insiders own 0.39% of the company's stock.

Wickes Group Company Profile

Wickes is one of the UK's best known home improvement retailers. Having opened our first store in 1972 we now have 228 stores across the UK, employing 7,400 colleagues and offering products ranging from kitchens and bathrooms, to paint, tools and timber. Wickes is a successful, growing, cash generative and profitable business, operating in the large and growing £27 billion UK Home Improvement market. Over the past few years Wickes has consistently outperformed the market, growing share and delivering a CAGR growth rate double that of the market. At Wickes, we have a clear purpose, which is to ‘help the nation feel house proud', and we do this by focusing on our three customer segments - Local Trade, Do-it-for-me and DIY retail.

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