Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains 'Outperform' Rating for Close Brothers Group

Researchers at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods have reaffirmed their 'outperform' rating for Close Brothers Group (LON:CBG) in a report released on Thursday. They have set a price target of GBX 430 ($5.54) on the company's shares. This target indicates a potential upside of 30.22% based on the stock's closing price prior to the announcement.

Recently, various other research institutions have also provided their insights regarding Close Brothers Group. For instance, on February 13th, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target for the shares from GBX 610 ($7.85) to GBX 600 ($7.72), attaching a 'hold' rating to the stock. On March 18th, Shore Capital reiterated a 'buy' rating for Close Brothers Group in their research.

Close Brothers Group Stock Overview

During trading on Thursday, shares of Close Brothers Group saw an increase of GBX 25.20 ($0.32), bringing the stock price to GBX 330.20 ($4.25). A total of 1,195,440 shares were exchanged, compared to the average trading volume of 2,457,038. The company boasts a market capitalization of £497.49 million, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 4.98, a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1.87, and a beta of 0.82. The stock has a moving average of GBX 314.95 over the past fifty days and GBX 304.30 over the last two hundred days. Over the past year, the price of Close Brothers Group shares has experienced a low of GBX 179.83 ($2.32) and a high of GBX 564 ($7.26).

Close Brothers Group published its latest earnings report on March 18th, showing earnings per share (EPS) of GBX 30.90 ($0.40) for the quarter. Their net profit margin is recorded at 7.79%, with a return on equity of 5.78%. Analysts forecast that Close Brothers Group is expected to achieve an average EPS of 66.00 for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Close Brothers Group

In related news, insider Michael N. Biggs purchased 5,000 shares of Close Brothers Group stock on March 19th, acquiring them at an average price of GBX 288 ($3.71) per share, totaling a value of £14,400 ($18,539.98). Currently, corporate insiders hold 2.91% of the company's stock.

About Close Brothers Group

Close Brothers Group plc operates as a merchant banking institution, providing financial services primarily to small businesses and individuals across the United Kingdom. They operate through five business segments: Commercial, Retail, Property, Asset Management, and Securities. Their offerings include banking services such as debt factoring, invoice discounting, asset-based lending, and financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, they provide residential housing financing, equipment financing, insurance products, and various savings options for both individuals and businesses.

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