Whitbread (LON:WTB) Receives “Overweight” Rating from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated their overweight rating on shares of Whitbread (LON:WTB) in a report published on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a GBX 4,200 ($53.28) price objective on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Berenberg Bank dropped their price objective on shares of Whitbread from GBX 4,200 ($53.28) to GBX 4,000 ($50.74) and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 29th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 40 ($0.51) price target on shares of Whitbread in a report on Wednesday, June 12th. Finally, Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Whitbread in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 3,122.50 ($39.61).

Whitbread Price Performance

Whitbread stock opened at GBX 2,975 ($37.74) on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is GBX 3,010.80 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 3,283.38. The company has a market capitalization of £5.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,859.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -3.09 and a beta of 1.08. Whitbread has a 1 year low of GBX 2,848 ($36.13) and a 1 year high of GBX 3,714 ($47.11). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 144.72, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a current ratio of 1.02.

Whitbread Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 23rd will be given a dividend of GBX 62.90 ($0.80) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 23rd. This is an increase from Whitbread’s previous dividend of $34.10. Whitbread’s payout ratio is currently 6,062.50%.

Insider Activity at Whitbread

In related news, insider Hemant Patel sold 5,476 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,958 ($37.52), for a total value of £161,980.08 ($205,480.25). In related news, insider Dame Karen Jones purchased 900 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 3,004 ($38.11) per share, with a total value of £27,036 ($34,296.59). Also, insider Hemant Patel sold 5,476 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,958 ($37.52), for a total transaction of £161,980.08 ($205,480.25). 3.99% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Whitbread

Whitbread plc operates hotels and restaurants in the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates hotels with rooms in the United Kingdom; Middle East; and Germany under the Premier Inn, ZIP by Premier Inn, and hub by Premier Inn brands. The company operates restaurants under the Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Cookhouse & Pub, Bar+Block Steakhouse, Thyme, and Table Table brands in the United Kingdom.