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

Shares of BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) have earned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 1,335 ($16.49).

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

Insider Activity at BAE Systems

In other BAE Systems news, insider Charles Woodburn sold 331,716 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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). In related news, insider Cressida Hogg acquired 13,698 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 19th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 1,320 ($16.30) per share, with a total value of £180,813.60 ($223,336.96). Also, insider Charles Woodburn sold 331,716 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,255 ($15.50), for a total value of £4,163,035.80 ($5,142,089.67). In the last three months, insiders acquired 16,865 shares of company stock worth $23,122,077. 0.36% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

BAE Systems Stock Up 1.5 %

BA opened at GBX 1,340 ($16.55) on Monday. BAE Systems has a fifty-two week low of GBX 883.40 ($10.91) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 1,378 ($17.02). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.47, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is GBX 1,298.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 1,176.85. 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 Increases Dividend

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

BAE Systems Company Profile

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.