XPS Pensions Group (LON:XPS) Trading 11.1% Higher – Here’s Why

XPS Pensions Group plc (LON:XPS) shares shot up 11.1% on Saturday . The stock traded as high as GBX 397 ($4.99) and last traded at GBX 385.45 ($4.85). 3,388,795 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 125% from the average session volume of 1,504,858 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 347 ($4.37).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently issued reports on XPS. Canaccord Genuity Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 401 ($5.04) target price on shares of XPS Pensions Group in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Shore Capital reissued a “hold” rating on shares of XPS Pensions Group in a research note on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 435 ($5.47) target price on shares of XPS Pensions Group in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, XPS Pensions Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of GBX 356.50 ($4.48).

XPS Pensions Group Price Performance

The stock’s 50 day moving average price is GBX 343.54 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 331.31. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.52. The stock has a market capitalization of £795.95 million, a PE ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.57.

XPS Pensions Group (LON:XPS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 21st. The company reported GBX 9.40 ($0.12) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. XPS Pensions Group had a net margin of 128.13% and a return on equity of 156.24%.

XPS Pensions Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 9th were paid a GBX 3.70 ($0.05) dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 9th. This represents a yield of 1.03%. XPS Pensions Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 8.03%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Alan Bannatyne bought 13,033 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 349 ($4.39) per share, for a total transaction of £45,485.17 ($57,221.25). 5.14% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

XPS Pensions Group Company Profile

XPS Group is a leading UK consulting and administration business specialising in the pensions and insurance sectors. A FTSE 250 company, XPS combines expertise and insight with advanced technology and analytics to address the needs of over 1,400 pension schemes and their sponsoring employers on an ongoing and project basis.