Compass Group (LON:CPG) Reaches New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

Compass Group PLC (LON:CPG)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 2,853 ($35.90) and last traded at GBX 2,829 ($35.60), with a volume of 12509826 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,843 ($35.77).

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 2,960 ($37.25) target price on shares of Compass Group in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Compass Group from GBX 2,500 ($31.46) to GBX 2,600 ($32.72) and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Compass Group presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 2,690 ($33.85).

Compass Group Price Performance

The company has a market cap of £47.51 billion, a PE ratio of 35.22, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 86.56, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.74. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 2,709.04 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 2,557.55.

Compass Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 16th will be paid a $0.39 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 16th. This is a boost from Compass Group’s previous dividend of $0.21. Compass Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Dominic Blakemore sold 119,821 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,692 ($33.87), for a total transaction of £3,225,581.32 ($4,058,866.64). Also, insider Palmer Brown acquired 9,401 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 16th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 2,656 ($33.42) per share, for a total transaction of £249,690.56 ($314,194.74). Insiders own 0.15% of the company’s stock.

About Compass Group

Compass Group PLC is a world leading food service company, which generated annual revenues of £31.3 billion in the year to 30 September 2023. It serves meals to millions of people in c. 35 countries and employs and engages with c. 550,000 people. The Company specialises in providing food and a range of targeted support services across the core sectors of Business & Industry, Healthcare & Senior Living, Education, Sports & Leisure and Defence, Offshore & Remote, with an established brand portfolio.