Marks and Spencer Group (LON:MKS) Shares Cross Above 200 Day Moving Average of $267.55

Shares of Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 267.55 ($3.47) and traded as high as GBX 310.50 ($4.03). Marks and Spencer Group shares last traded at GBX 310.50 ($4.03), with a volume of 7,021,019 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Marks and Spencer Group to a “buy” rating and set a GBX 310 ($4.02) target price on the stock in a report on Monday, April 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 350 ($4.54) price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Friday, June 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Friday, June 28th. Shore Capital reiterated a “house stock” rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Thursday, May 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a GBX 315 ($4.09) price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a report on Wednesday, May 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of GBX 322.50 ($4.18).

Marks and Spencer Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of £6.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,522.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 295.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 267.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 115.61, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.42.

Marks and Spencer Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 30th were paid a GBX 2 ($0.03) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 30th. This is a positive change from Marks and Spencer Group’s previous dividend of $1.00. This represents a dividend yield of 0.73%. Marks and Spencer Group’s payout ratio is presently 1,428.57%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Marks and Spencer Group

In other Marks and Spencer Group news, insider Stuart Machin sold 619,188 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 289 ($3.75), for a total value of £1,789,453.32 ($2,320,650.14). Corporate insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

About Marks and Spencer Group

Marks and Spencer Group plc operates various retail stores. It operates through five segments: UK Clothing & Home, UK Food, International, Ocado, and All Other. The company offers protein deli and dairy; produce; ambient and in-store bakery; meals dessert and frozen; and hospitality and Food on the Move' products.