Associated British Foods (LON:ABF) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Time to Sell?

Associated British Foods plc (LON:ABF - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2,128 ($27.15) and last traded at GBX 2,139 ($27.29), with a volume of 3395510 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,192 ($27.96).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on ABF. Shore Capital reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Associated British Foods in a research note on Tuesday, September 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Associated British Foods to a "sell" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from GBX 2,290 ($29.21) to GBX 2,190 ($27.94) in a research report on Tuesday, August 27th.

Associated British Foods Stock Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 2,275.51 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 2,404.26. The firm has a market capitalization of £15.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,380.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.71.

Associated British Foods Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 12th will be given a GBX 69.30 ($0.88) dividend. This is an increase from Associated British Foods's previous dividend of $20.70. This represents a dividend yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 12th. Associated British Foods's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3,483.87%.

Insider Activity

In other Associated British Foods news, insider George G. Weston sold 56,653 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,161 ($27.57), for a total value of £1,224,271.33 ($1,561,769.78). Also, insider Loraine Woodhouse bought 4,164 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 2,389 ($30.48) per share, for a total transaction of £99,477.96 ($126,901.34). Company insiders own 58.08% of the company's stock.

Associated British Foods Company Profile

Associated British Foods plc operates as a diversified food, ingredients, and retail company worldwide. It operates through five segments: Grocery, Ingredients, Agriculture, Sugar, and Retail. The Grocery segment manufactures and sells grocery products, including hot beverages, sugar and sweeteners, vegetable oils, balsamic vinegars, bread and baked goods, cereals, ethnic foods, and meat products to retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses.