Compass Group (LON:CPG) Reaches New 52-Week High - Time to Buy?

Shares of Compass Group PLC (LON:CPG - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 2,807 ($35.33) and last traded at GBX 2,799 ($35.23), with a volume of 5176492 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,751 ($34.63).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on CPG shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on shares of Compass Group from GBX 2,500 ($31.47) to GBX 2,600 ($32.72) and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 2,960 ($37.26) target price on shares of Compass Group in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 2,690 ($33.86).

Compass Group Trading Up 0.3 %

The business's 50 day moving average price is GBX 2,705.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 2,548.79. The company has a current ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 86.56. The company has a market capitalization of £48.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.66, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.81.

Compass Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 16th will be paid a $0.39 dividend. This is a positive change from Compass Group's previous dividend of $0.21. This represents a dividend yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 16th. Compass Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 55.33%.

Insider Activity at Compass Group

In other news, insider Dominic Blakemore sold 119,821 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,692 ($33.88), for a total value of £3,225,581.32 ($4,059,888.38). Also, insider Palmer Brown bought 9,401 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 2,656 ($33.43) per share, with a total value of £249,690.56 ($314,273.83). 0.15% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Compass Group

Compass Group PLC is a world leading food service company, which generated annual revenues of £31.3 billion in the year to 30 September 2023. It serves meals to millions of people in c. 35 countries and employs and engages with c. 550,000 people. The Company specialises in providing food and a range of targeted support services across the core sectors of Business & Industry, Healthcare & Senior Living, Education, Sports & Leisure and Defence, Offshore & Remote, with an established brand portfolio.