Clarkson PLC provides integrated shipping services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Broking, Financial, Support, and Research. The Broking segment offers services to ship owners and charterers in the transportation of various cargoes by sea; and to buyers and sellers/yards related to sale and purchase transactions, as well as futures broking operation. This segment deals in containers, deep sea tankers, dry cargo, liquefied petroleum gas and ammonia, liquefied natural gas, offshore, petrochemical gases, renewables, shortsea, specialized products, sale and purchase, and PCTC markets; and towage, salvage, and transportation markets. The Financial segment provides investment banking services for maritime, oil services, and natural resources sectors; structured asset finance services and projects in the shipping, offshore, and real estate sectors; and freight derivative products. This segment also offers equity and fixed income sales and trading; equity and credit research; and corporate access and corporate finance services, including advising clients on various equity and debt capital markets, and M&A transactions. The Support segment provides port and agency, freight forwarding, supplies, and tools for the marine and offshore industries. The Research segment offers shipping-related information and publications; and collects, validates, analyses, and manages data to inform various business decisions. This segment provides web products, such as Shipping Intelligence Network and World Fleet Register to printed publications, including Shipping Intelligence Weekly and Offshore Intelligence Monthly; data and analysis services for IPO and bond issues; customer service contracts, primarily to the financial, government, insurance, equipment, and shipbuilding sectors; and valuations to owners and the financial community. It also offers research and legal services. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
Analyst Ratings Changes
A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on CKN shares. Shore Capital restated a "not rated" rating on shares of Clarkson in a report on Monday, August 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Clarkson from GBX 3,370 ($40.72) to GBX 3,380 ($40.84) and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 4,087.50 ($49.39).
Clarkson Stock Up 1.4 %
CKN opened at GBX 3,635 ($43.92) on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of £1.11 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,230.06. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 3,201.36 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 3,333.84. Clarkson has a twelve month low of GBX 2,765 ($33.41) and a twelve month high of GBX 4,225 ($51.05). The company has a quick ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 1.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.88.
Clarkson Cuts Dividend
The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 1st will be paid a dividend of GBX 29 ($0.35) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 1st. This represents a yield of 0.82%. Clarkson's dividend payout ratio is presently 49.69%.
Insider Activity
In related news, insider Jeff Woyda sold 1,211 shares of Clarkson stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,254 ($39.32), for a total value of £39,405.94 ($47,614.72).