Centrica (LON:CNA) Stock Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?

Centrica plc (LON:CNA)’s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 130.06 ($1.68) and traded as high as GBX 146.55 ($1.89). Centrica shares last traded at GBX 144.52 ($1.87), with a volume of 61,669,555 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CNA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 150 ($1.94) price objective on shares of Centrica in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “top pick” rating on shares of Centrica in a report on Thursday, December 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Centrica has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of GBX 167 ($2.16).

Centrica Trading Down 0.3 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 66.48. The firm has a market cap of £7.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.08. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 141.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 130.06.

Centrica (LON:CNA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The integrated energy company reported GBX 19 ($0.25) EPS for the quarter. Centrica had a net margin of 5.39% and a return on equity of 25.16%.

Centrica Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 1st will be given a dividend of GBX 3 ($0.04) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.08%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 1st. This is a boost from Centrica’s previous dividend of $1.50. Centrica’s dividend payout ratio is currently 19.06%.

Insider Transactions at Centrica

In other Centrica news, insider Amber Rudd purchased 1,483 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 152 ($1.96) per share, for a total transaction of £2,254.16 ($2,910.47). In the last 90 days, insiders bought 4,955 shares of company stock worth $683,896. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Centrica

Centrica is energising a greener, fairer future for our colleagues, customers and communities. Our integrated business operates across the energy value chain, with over ten million Retail customers, leading brands such as British Gas and Bord Gáis Energy, and the UK’s largest energy services workforce.