Grafton Group plc (LON:GFTU) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Buy” from Brokerages

Grafton Group plc (LON:GFTU) has earned an average recommendation of “Buy” from the six research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 2,795.

Several research firms recently issued reports on GFTU. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 1,175 target price on shares of Grafton Group in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a GBX 1,275 target price on shares of Grafton Group in a report on Monday, May 18th. Berenberg Bank reduced their price target on shares of Grafton Group from GBX 1,100 to GBX 1,000 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Grafton Group from £115 to £110 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 19th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Grafton Group

In related news, insider Eric Born acquired 1,182 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 8th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 915 per share, with a total value of £10,815.30. Insiders own 9.33% of the company’s stock.

Grafton Group Stock Performance

Shares of Grafton Group stock traded down GBX 4.07 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting GBX 885.83. 3,481,891 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,402,836. Grafton Group has a 12 month low of GBX 788.60 and a 12 month high of GBX 1,009.80. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 860.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 909.22. The company has a market capitalization of £2.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 37.55, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.11.

Grafton Group announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, June 30th that authorizes the company to buyback 0 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

About Grafton Group

Grafton Group plc engages in the distribution, retailing, and manufacturing businesses in Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom. Its Distribution segment distributes building materials, paint, tools, ironmongery, fixings, and accessories, workwear and PPE, and spare parts; materials and plant for mechanical services, heating, plumbing, and air movement; and trade, DIY, and self-build markets with building materials, timber, doors and floors, plumbing and heating, bathrooms, and landscaping products under the Selco, Leyland SDM, Chadwicks, MacBlair, Isero, Polvo, Gunters en Meuser, TG Lynes, and IKH brands.