Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Barclays PLC (LON:BARC) has been assigned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 576.67.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 570 price objective on shares of Barclays in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Barclays from GBX 600 to GBX 610 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Citigroup increased their target price on Barclays from GBX 505 to GBX 510 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Barclays from GBX 590 to GBX 600 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a GBX 550 price objective on shares of Barclays in a report on Wednesday, August 12th.

Barclays News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Barclays this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Higher-rate outlook could support net interest income. Barclays expects the European Central Bank to raise rates by another 25 basis points in December as inflation and energy-price pressures persist. Higher rates can benefit banks’ lending margins, although they may also weaken loan demand and increase credit-risk concerns. Global Market: Barclays expects ECB to raise rates again in December as inflation risks persist
• Positive Sentiment: Barclays’ bullish equity-market view may reinforce confidence in its capital-markets franchise. The bank raised its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,950 and lifted its aggregate earnings-per-share forecast to $365, citing strong technology earnings and artificial-intelligence investment. A stronger equity market could support Barclays’ investment-banking, trading and wealth-management activity. Barclays Lifts S&P 500 Year-End Target to 7,950 as Overall EPS Estimates Jump to $365
• Neutral Sentiment: Senior-executive share dealings were disclosed. The filing concerns transactions by two executives and appears to be routine compliance reporting; no strategic change or financial impact was identified. Barclays Reports Share Dealings by Senior Executives
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor-relations activity remains active. Cboe Global Markets is scheduled to present at Barclays’ Global Financial Services Conference on September 16, but the event itself provides no direct update to Barclays’ earnings or strategy. Cboe Global Markets to Present at the Barclays Global Financial Services Conference
• Negative Sentiment: Reports of repeated failures in Barclays’ Beowulf internal risk platform raise operational and control concerns. Traders reportedly experienced outages during busy markets, potentially increasing execution, risk-management and reputational risks. Barclays traders flying blind as internal risk platform Beowulf keeps crashing during peak markets
• Negative Sentiment: Legal scrutiny over Barclays’ alleged role in a £90 million Ponzi scheme could weigh on sentiment. Potential litigation, regulatory action, penalties or reputational damage represent downside risks, although the reports do not establish final liability. Barclays faces legal scrutiny over role in £90m Ponzi scheme

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Barclays news, insider Mary Mack bought 2,160 shares of Barclays stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 497 per share, with a total value of £10,735.20. Also, insider Robert Berry bought 1,908 shares of Barclays stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 497 per share, with a total value of £9,482.76. Insiders have bought 27,498 shares of company stock valued at $13,666,506 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Barclays Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of LON BARC opened at GBX 488.85 on Monday. The business’s 50 day moving average is GBX 507.91 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 464.43. Barclays has a 52-week low of GBX 353.55 and a 52-week high of GBX 538.30. The firm has a market cap of £65.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.12, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.87.

Barclays (LON:BARC) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The financial services provider reported GBX 30.70 EPS for the quarter. Barclays had a net margin of 25.61% and a return on equity of 10.11%. Analysts anticipate that Barclays will post 39.1062802 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Barclays Company Profile

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.