Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the seven research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 575.

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Berenberg Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 620 price objective on shares of Barclays in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a GBX 550 target price on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Barclays from GBX 505 to GBX 510 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 590 price target on shares of Barclays in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 570 price target on shares of Barclays in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th.

Insider Activity at Barclays

In related news, insider Nigel Higgins acquired 7,604 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 497 per share, for a total transaction of £37,791.88. Also, insider Dawn Fitzpatrick purchased 2,307 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 497 per share, for a total transaction of £11,465.79. Over the last quarter, insiders have bought 27,498 shares of company stock worth $13,666,506. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

More Barclays News

Here are the key news stories impacting Barclays this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays appointed Mike Joo and Adeel Khan as co-CEOs of its investment bank. The leadership change could support continuity and execution in a strategically important division, although the announcement does not include new financial targets. Barclays names Mike Joo and Adeel Khan investment bank co-CEOs
• Neutral Sentiment: Chief Executive C.S. Venkatakrishnan disclosed the transfer of more than 200,000 Barclays shares to charitable causes. Because the transaction is a charitable gift rather than an open-market disposal, it is unlikely to have a meaningful effect on Barclays’ fundamentals or valuation. Barclays CEO Gifts Over 200,000 Shares to Charitable Causes
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays provided a new £33 million loan facility to Winvia Entertainment as part of the company’s refinancing. The deal demonstrates ongoing corporate-lending activity, but its size is small relative to Barclays’ balance sheet and is unlikely to move the stock. Winvia Entertainment Secures New Barclays Loan to Drive Prize Draw Growth

Barclays Price Performance

Shares of Barclays stock opened at GBX 495.10 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is GBX 510.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 462.62. The company has a market capitalization of £66.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.25, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.88. Barclays has a 1-year low of GBX 352.85 and a 1-year high of GBX 538.30.

Barclays (LON:BARC) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The financial services provider reported GBX 30.70 EPS for the quarter. Barclays had a net margin of 25.61% and a return on equity of 10.11%. On average, research analysts expect that Barclays will post 39.1062802 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Barclays

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. In addition, the company engages in securities dealing activities. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985.