Ashtead Group plc (LON:AHT) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Ashtead Group plc (LON:AHT) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the six brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 6,550 ($82.40).

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 6,500 ($81.77) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Ashtead Group from GBX 6,600 ($83.03) to GBX 7,300 ($91.84) and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 7,000 ($88.06) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a GBX 6,800 ($85.55) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Monday, December 16th.

Insider Transactions at Ashtead Group

In related news, insider Brendan Horgan purchased 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 5,320 ($66.93) per share, for a total transaction of £212,800 ($267,706.63). Also, insider Lucinda Riches sold 1,000 shares of Ashtead Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,880 ($73.97), for a total value of £58,800 ($73,971.57). Insiders own 0.64% of the company’s stock.

Ashtead Group Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of AHT opened at GBX 4,890 ($61.52) on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 145.75, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Ashtead Group has a 1-year low of GBX 4,711 ($59.27) and a 1-year high of GBX 6,448 ($81.12). The company has a market capitalization of £21.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,845.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.22. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is GBX 5,855.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 5,554.54.

Ashtead Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be given a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, January 9th. Ashtead Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 3,018.87%.

About Ashtead Group

Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services.