Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS) Insider Stuart Machin Sells 619,188 Shares

Marks and Spencer Group plc (LON:MKS) insider Stuart Machin sold 619,188 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 289 ($3.66), for a total transaction of £1,789,453.32 ($2,263,411.74).

Marks and Spencer Group Price Performance

MKS opened at GBX 288.80 ($3.65) on Thursday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 286.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 265.46. The firm has a market cap of £5.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,375.24, a PEG ratio of 0.20 and a beta of 1.58. Marks and Spencer Group plc has a twelve month low of GBX 183.80 ($2.32) and a twelve month high of GBX 314 ($3.97). The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 115.61.

Marks and Spencer Group Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MKS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Shore Capital reissued a “house stock” rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research note on Thursday, May 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a GBX 350 ($4.43) price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research report on Friday, June 28th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Marks and Spencer Group to a “buy” rating and set a GBX 310 ($3.92) price target for the company in a research report on Monday, April 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research report on Friday, June 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a GBX 315 ($3.98) price target on shares of Marks and Spencer Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 15th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 322.50 ($4.08).

Marks and Spencer Group Company Profile

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.