Analysts Set Ashtead Group plc (LON:AHT) Target Price at GBX 6,550

Ashtead Group plc (LON:AHT) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment 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 updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 6,550 ($81.97).

Several research firms recently commented on AHT. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 6,500 ($81.34) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a GBX 6,800 ($85.10) price target on shares of Ashtead Group in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Berenberg Bank reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 7,000 ($87.60) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Monday, October 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Ashtead Group from GBX 6,600 ($82.59) to GBX 7,300 ($91.35) and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th.

Insider Activity at Ashtead Group

In other Ashtead Group news, insider Brendan Horgan acquired 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 11th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 5,320 ($66.57) per share, with a total value of £212,800 ($266,299.59). Also, insider Lucinda Riches sold 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 5,880 ($73.58), for a total value of £58,800 ($73,582.78). 0.64% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Ashtead Group Stock Performance

Shares of AHT stock opened at GBX 4,965 ($62.13) on Wednesday. Ashtead Group has a 52 week low of GBX 4,711 ($58.95) and a 52 week high of GBX 6,448 ($80.69). The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 5,817.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 5,546.98. The firm has a market cap of £21.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,873.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 145.75, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.17.

Ashtead Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th will be issued a $0.36 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 0.45%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 9th. Ashtead Group’s payout ratio is 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.