Analysts Set BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) PT at GBX 1,438

Shares of BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,438 ($18.67).

A number of analysts recently commented on BA shares. Berenberg Bank restated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 1,360 ($17.66) price target on shares of BAE Systems in a research note on Friday, September 6th. Citigroup upgraded BAE Systems to a “buy” rating and set a GBX 1,440 ($18.70) target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a GBX 1,500 ($19.48) price target on shares of BAE Systems in a research report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a “hold” rating on shares of BAE Systems in a report on Thursday, August 1st.

Insider Activity

In other BAE Systems news, insider Tom Arseneault sold 152,999 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,330 ($17.27), for a total transaction of £2,034,886.70 ($2,642,023.76). 0.14% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

BAE Systems Stock Performance

Shares of BA stock opened at GBX 1,323 ($17.18) on Monday. BAE Systems has a 52 week low of GBX 1,012.50 ($13.15) and a 52 week high of GBX 1,415.25 ($18.38). The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 1,304.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 1,319.03. The firm has a market cap of £39.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,233.33, a P/E/G ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 94.37, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.03.

BAE Systems Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 24th will be paid a dividend of GBX 12.40 ($0.16) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.96%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 24th. BAE Systems’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 5,166.67%.

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.