Bunzl (LON:BNZL) Shares Down 26.8% - Should You Sell?

Bunzl plc (LON:BNZL - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 26.8% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2,230 ($29.66) and last traded at GBX 2,254 ($29.98). 123,020,359 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 2,949% from the average session volume of 4,034,913 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,078 ($40.94).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on BNZL. Citigroup upgraded shares of Bunzl to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 13th. Shore Capital restated a "buy" rating on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Monday, March 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of GBX 3,375 ($44.89).

Bunzl Stock Up 0.4 %

The company's 50 day simple moving average is GBX 3,048.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 3,308.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 123.00, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.15. The firm has a market capitalization of £7.52 billion, a PE ratio of 15.89, a PEG ratio of 5.40 and a beta of 0.45.

Bunzl (LON:BNZL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 3rd. The company reported GBX 194.30 ($2.58) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Bunzl had a return on equity of 16.82% and a net margin of 4.20%. On average, analysts forecast that Bunzl plc will post 213.3413462 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Bunzl Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 2nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 22nd will be given a GBX 53.80 ($0.72) dividend. This is a boost from Bunzl's previous dividend of $20.10. This represents a dividend yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 22nd. Bunzl's payout ratio is currently 48.39%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Richard Howes acquired 8,479 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 2,338 ($31.10) per share, with a total value of £198,239.02 ($263,685.85). Also, insider Frank van Zanten acquired 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 3,037 ($40.40) per share, for a total transaction of £121,480 ($161,585.53). Corporate insiders own 0.84% of the company's stock.

About Bunzl

Bunzl plc operates as a distribution and services company in the North America, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers food packaging, films, labels, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and personal protection equipment to grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.