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

Ashtead Group plc (LON:AHT) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research 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 analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 6,550 ($79.69).

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on AHT shares. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a GBX 7,000 ($85.17) target price on shares of Ashtead Group in a research note on Monday, October 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Ashtead Group from GBX 6,600 ($80.30) to GBX 7,300 ($88.82) and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 6,800 ($82.74) target price on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Monday, December 16th.

Ashtead Group Stock Up 2.7 %

LON:AHT opened at GBX 5,324 ($64.78) on Friday. Ashtead Group has a 1-year low of GBX 4,759 ($57.90) and a 1-year high of GBX 6,448 ($78.45). The company has a market capitalization of £23.25 billion, a PE ratio of 2,009.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.22. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is GBX 5,592.39 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 5,502.35. 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 Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be paid 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%.

Insider Transactions at Ashtead Group

In other news, insider Brendan Horgan purchased 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 5,320 ($64.73) per share, for a total transaction of £212,800 ($258,912.28). Company insiders own 0.64% of the company’s stock.

Ashtead Group Company Profile

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.