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

Beazley plc (LON:BEZ) shares were up 40.5% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 1,195 and last traded at GBX 1,151.73. Approximately 13,631,455 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 87% from the average daily volume of 7,298,813 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 820.

Key Beazley News

Here are the key news stories impacting Beazley this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zurich reportedly plans to build a “leading” global specialty insurance platform and has sweetened a cash offer for Beazley, which supports a takeover premium for shareholders. Swiss Insurer Zurich Eyes Creation of ‘Leading’ Global Specialty Platform With Sweetened Beazley Bid
• Positive Sentiment: Market reaction to takeover speculation drove a very large short-term price jump (one report notes a ~40% intraday move), indicating strong investor appetite for a deal premium. Beazley (LON:BEZ) Stock Price Up 40.5% – Time to Buy?
• Neutral Sentiment: Beazley disclosed it received an unsolicited, non-binding, conditional all-cash proposal and initially rejected Zurich’s approach — a common early-stage defensive response that leaves room for further negotiations or a revised offer. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary in the Financial Times frames the bid as symptomatic of wider structural shifts (foreign buyers, consolidation) that could pressure London-listed specialty insurers’ strategic independence and long-term shareholder outcomes; this raises governance and regulatory uncertainty around any deal. Bad news: Zurich’s Beazley bid is a symptom of London getting cleaner

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Beazley Trading Up 2.6%

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 839.13 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 859.03. The stock has a market capitalization of £6.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.65, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.68.

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.