Analysts Set Babcock International Group PLC (LON:BAB) Target Price at GBX 585.80

Shares of Babcock International Group PLC (LON:BAB - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by the six research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 585.80 ($7.67).

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on BAB shares. Shore Capital reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Babcock International Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 17th. Bank of America restated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 660 ($8.64) target price on shares of Babcock International Group in a research note on Monday, September 2nd. Finally, Berenberg Bank downgraded Babcock International Group to a "hold" rating and increased their price target for the stock from GBX 510 ($6.67) to GBX 565 ($7.39) in a research note on Wednesday, July 17th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider John Ramsay bought 10,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 496 ($6.49) per share, for a total transaction of £49,600 ($64,912.97). In other Babcock International Group news, insider David Mellors sold 276,512 shares of Babcock International Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 501 ($6.56), for a total transaction of £1,385,325.12 ($1,813,015.47). Also, insider John Ramsay acquired 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 496 ($6.49) per share, with a total value of £49,600 ($64,912.97). Corporate insiders own 0.78% of the company's stock.

Babcock International Group Stock Performance

Shares of LON:BAB traded up GBX 1.80 ($0.02) during midday trading on Friday, reaching GBX 473.80 ($6.20). The company had a trading volume of 374,961 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,485,114. Babcock International Group has a 52-week low of GBX 373.60 ($4.89) and a 52-week high of GBX 575 ($7.53). The company's 50 day moving average price is GBX 500.26 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 516.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 245.75. The stock has a market cap of £2.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,476.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.35 and a beta of 1.28.

Babcock International Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 22nd were paid a dividend of GBX 3.30 ($0.04) per share. This is a positive change from Babcock International Group's previous dividend of $1.70. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 22nd. This represents a yield of 0.68%. Babcock International Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 1,562.50%.

About Babcock International Group

Babcock International Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides value-add services for aerospace, defense, and security in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Africa, North America, Australasia, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Marine, Nuclear, Land, and Aviation.