Compass Group (LON:CPG) Stock Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Compass Group PLC (LON:CPG - Get Free Report) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 2,447.14 ($29.88) and traded as high as GBX 2,734 ($33.38). Compass Group shares last traded at GBX 2,732 ($33.36), with a volume of 3,965,923 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on CPG shares. Berenberg Bank boosted their price target on shares of Compass Group from GBX 2,460 ($30.04) to GBX 2,900 ($35.41) and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Compass Group from GBX 2,500 ($30.53) to GBX 2,600 ($31.75) and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. One 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 presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 2,675 ($32.66).

Compass Group Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 89.31, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The stock has a market cap of £45.85 billion, a PE ratio of 3,548.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.81. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 2,650.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 2,450.63.

Compass Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 27th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 16th. This is an increase from Compass Group's previous dividend of $0.21. Compass Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 5,789.47%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Palmer Brown acquired 9,401 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 16th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 2,656 ($32.43) per share, with a total value of £249,690.56 ($304,872.48). Also, insider Dominic Blakemore sold 119,821 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,692 ($32.87), for a total transaction of £3,225,581.32 ($3,938,438.73). Company insiders own 0.15% of the company's stock.

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.