BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the seven analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,335 ($16.77).

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BA. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of BAE Systems from GBX 1,300 ($16.33) to GBX 1,400 ($17.59) and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of BAE Systems in a report on Friday, March 8th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a GBX 1,400 ($17.59) price objective for the company. Shore Capital restated a “buy” rating on shares of BAE Systems in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on BAE Systems from GBX 1,290 ($16.20) to GBX 1,440 ($18.09) and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of BAE Systems from GBX 1,250 ($15.70) to GBX 1,450 ($18.21) and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 12th.

BAE Systems Price Performance

LON BA opened at GBX 1,361.50 ($17.10) on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 1,308.37 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 1,185.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.47, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market cap of £41.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,269.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 0.36.

BAE Systems Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 18th will be paid a GBX 18.50 ($0.23) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 18th. This is a boost from BAE Systems’s previous dividend of $11.50. This represents a dividend yield of 1.48%. BAE Systems’s payout ratio is presently 5,000.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other BAE Systems news, insider Nicole Piasecki acquired 3,132 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 1,595 ($20.04) per share, with a total value of £49,955.40 ($62,750.16). In related news, insider Nicole Piasecki bought 3,132 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 1,595 ($20.04) per share, for a total transaction of £49,955.40 ($62,750.16). Also, insider Charles Woodburn sold 331,716 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,255 ($15.76), for a total value of £4,163,035.80 ($5,229,287.53). In the last 90 days, insiders have bought 16,865 shares of company stock valued at $23,122,077. Corporate insiders own 0.36% of the company’s stock.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Platforms & Services, Air, Maritime, and Cyber & Intelligence. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance capabilities, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems.