Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) has received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 545.

BARC has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Barclays from GBX 570 to GBX 590 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Barclays from GBX 425 to GBX 450 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Barclays to an “outperform” rating and increased their price objective for the company from GBX 550 to GBX 575 in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Shore Capital Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Barclays in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of Barclays from GBX 590 to GBX 600 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th.

Barclays Stock Up 0.3%

LON:BARC opened at GBX 508 on Wednesday. Barclays has a fifty-two week low of GBX 319.35 and a fifty-two week high of GBX 523. The stock has a market cap of £68.79 billion, a PE ratio of 11.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.90. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is GBX 456.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 452.25.

Barclays (LON:BARC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The financial services provider reported GBX 14.10 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of GBX 816.30 billion for the quarter. Barclays had a net margin of 17.81% and a return on equity of 9.46%. Equities analysts anticipate that Barclays will post 39.1062802 earnings per share for the current year.

Key Stories Impacting Barclays

Here are the key news stories impacting Barclays this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays said households in the UK have built up a financial buffer, a sign of resilience that could support consumer spending and credit quality, which is favorable for the bank. Britain’s households have built a financial buffer but struggle to grow their wealth: Barclays boss VIM MARU
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays agreed to buy the long-term lease on its Canary Wharf headquarters for about £750 million, a move that gives the bank greater control over a key asset and may reduce long-term occupancy uncertainty. Barclays acquires Canary Wharf headquarters leasehold in £750 million deal
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays extended its credit card partnership with Frontier and expanded the related financing facility, reinforcing an existing consumer-finance relationship but not materially changing the investment case on its own. Frontier and Barclays extend credit card agreement
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays analysts continued to issue market commentary and stock calls on other companies, including raising a price target on Watts Water Technologies and assigning an overweight rating to SAB Biotherapeutics; these highlight Barclays’ active research franchise but have limited direct impact on BARC shares. Watts Water Technologies stock soars as Barclays lifts price target to $414
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays also made market commentary that the Fed keeping rates steady may be the best-case scenario for equities, which is macro-related rather than a direct business catalyst. New best case scenario for markets is Fed keeps rates steady, says Barclays’ Venu Krishna
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays’ broader client-service push, including giving top bankers a single point of contact for major clients, could support fee generation over time, but the immediate earnings impact is unclear. Barclays Courts Big Clients by Giving All a Top Banker to Call

About Barclays

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. In addition, the company engages in securities dealing activities. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985.