Beazley (LON:BEZ) Stock Price Up 40.5% – Still a Buy?

Shares of Beazley plc (LON:BEZ) were up 40.5% on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 1,195 and last traded at GBX 1,152.45. Approximately 15,440,655 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 107% from the average daily volume of 7,449,580 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 820.

Beazley News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Beazley this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Unsolicited all-cash approach introduces potential takeover premium for shareholders and a clear catalyst for re-rating if talks progress or a revised bid is made. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom
• Neutral Sentiment: Beazley formally rejected the initial approach and the offer is non-binding and conditional — there is interest but no agreement yet, so outcome and timing remain uncertain. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing takeover speculation brings deal uncertainty, possible distraction for management, and the risk that talks stall or any final offer may be subject to regulatory or shareholder hurdles; a rejected initial approach could also lead to volatility if no enhanced bid emerges. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on BEZ shares. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on Beazley from GBX 1,000 to GBX 1,100 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 14th. Peel Hunt reissued an “add” rating and issued a GBX 900 price target on shares of Beazley in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Beazley from GBX 1,000 to GBX 1,040 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Beazley from GBX 1,050 to GBX 1,025 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reduced their price objective on shares of Beazley from GBX 1,150 to GBX 1,100 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Beazley presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 1,033.

Beazley Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of £6.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 829.24 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 855.62.

Beazley Company Profile

Beazley plc provides risk insurance and reinsurance solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through Cyber Risks, Digital, MAP Risks, Property Risks, and Specialty Risks segments. The Cyber Risk segment underwrites cyber and technology risks. The Digital segment underwrites various marine, contingency, and SME liability risks through digital channels, such as e-trading platforms and broker portals. The MAP Risks segment underwrites marine, portfolio underwriting and political, and contingency business.