Centrica (LON:CNA) Reaches New 52-Week High – Still a Buy?

Centrica plc (LON:CNA) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 181.15 and last traded at GBX 181.15, with a volume of 21360174 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 176.75.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised shares of Centrica to an “overweight” rating and increased their price target for the stock from GBX 180 to GBX 210 in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Berenberg Bank increased their target price on Centrica from GBX 155 to GBX 190 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 11th. Finally, Citigroup downgraded Centrica to a “neutral” rating and set a GBX 185 price target for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 192.80.

Centrica Trading Up 2.7%

The stock has a market capitalization of £8.22 billion, a PE ratio of -39.47, a PEG ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.48. The business’s 50-day moving average is GBX 170.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 166.41.

Insider Transactions at Centrica

In related news, insider Philippe Boisseau bought 1,116 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 29th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 168 per share, for a total transaction of £1,874.88. Also, insider Chris O’Shea bought 247 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 30th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 177 per share, for a total transaction of £437.19. Insiders purchased 5,809 shares of company stock valued at $985,959 over the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.22% of the company’s stock.

Centrica Company Profile

Centrica is energising a greener, fairer future for our colleagues, customers and communities. Our integrated business operates across the energy value chain, with over ten million Retail customers, leading brands such as British Gas and Bord Gáis Energy, and the UK’s largest energy services workforce. Our Infrastructure businesses bring gas and electricity to the market every day and provide more than half of the UK’s gas storage capacity, while our Optimisation business delivers world-class procurement and route-to-market capabilities to the Group and third parties, supporting energy security and our customers’ decarbonisation journeys.