XPS Pensions Group (LON:XPS) Trading Up 11.1% – Still a Buy?

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

XPS Pensions Group Trading Up 11.1 %

The firm has a market cap of £795.95 million, a PE ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.57. The company’s fifty day moving average price is GBX 343.54 and its two-hundred 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.

XPS Pensions Group (LON:XPS) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 21st. The company reported GBX 9.40 ($0.12) earnings per share 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 announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 9th were issued a GBX 3.70 ($0.05) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 9th. XPS Pensions Group’s payout ratio is 8.03%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Alan Bannatyne bought 13,033 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 349 ($4.39) per share, with a total value of £45,485.17 ($57,221.25). Insiders own 5.14% of the company’s stock.

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.