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

Shares of BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,335 ($16.49).

BA has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on BAE Systems from GBX 1,300 ($16.06) to GBX 1,400 ($17.29) and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. Berenberg Bank restated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 1,220 ($15.07) price objective on shares of BAE Systems in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Citigroup started coverage on BAE Systems in a research report on Friday, March 8th. They set a “neutral” rating and a GBX 1,400 ($17.29) price objective on the stock. Barclays upped their target price on BAE Systems from GBX 1,250 ($15.44) to GBX 1,450 ($17.91) and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on BAE Systems from GBX 1,290 ($15.93) to GBX 1,440 ($17.79) and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th.

BAE Systems Price Performance

LON:BA opened at GBX 1,340 ($16.55) on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.47. The company has a market capitalization of £40.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,233.33, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.35. BAE Systems has a 12 month low of GBX 883.40 ($10.91) and a 12 month high of GBX 1,378 ($17.02). The business’s 50-day moving average is GBX 1,298.79 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 1,176.85.

BAE Systems Increases Dividend

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

Insider Buying and Selling at BAE Systems

In related news, insider Nicole Piasecki bought 3,132 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 1,595 ($19.70) per share, with a total value of £49,955.40 ($61,703.80). In other news, insider Charles Woodburn sold 331,716 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,255 ($15.50), for a total transaction of £4,163,035.80 ($5,142,089.67). Also, insider Nicole Piasecki acquired 3,132 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 1,595 ($19.70) per share, with a total value of £49,955.40 ($61,703.80). In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 16,865 shares of company stock valued at $23,122,077. 0.36% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.