Bunzl (LON:BNZL) Sets New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Bunzl plc (LON:BNZL)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 2,894 ($37.53) and last traded at GBX 2,898 ($37.58), with a volume of 946116 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,966 ($38.46).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on BNZL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Bunzl from GBX 3,980 ($51.61) to GBX 4,150 ($53.82) and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Citigroup raised shares of Bunzl to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Shore Capital reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated an “underperform” rating and set a GBX 2,800 ($36.31) target price on shares of Bunzl in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bunzl currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of GBX 3,375 ($43.77).

Bunzl Trading Down 2.6 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 123.00. The business’s fifty day moving average is GBX 3,320.55 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 3,418.04. The stock has a market capitalization of £9.45 billion, a PE ratio of 19.98, a P/E/G ratio of 5.40 and a beta of 0.45.

Bunzl (LON:BNZL) last issued its earnings results on Monday, March 3rd. The company reported GBX 194.30 ($2.52) earnings per share for the quarter. Bunzl had a return on equity of 16.82% and a net margin of 4.20%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Bunzl plc will post 213.3413462 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Frank van Zanten acquired 4,000 shares of Bunzl stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 3,037 ($39.39) per share, for a total transaction of £121,480 ($157,541.17). Company insiders own 0.84% of the company’s stock.

About Bunzl

Bunzl plc operates as a distribution and services company in the North America, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers food packaging, films, labels, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and personal protection equipment to grocery stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.