Whitbread (LON:WTB) Given Buy Rating at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed their buy rating on shares of Whitbread (LON:WTB) in a research note released on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 40 ($0.51) price objective on the stock.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an overweight rating and set a GBX 4,200 ($53.48) target price on shares of Whitbread in a research report on Tuesday, June 11th. Berenberg Bank lowered their target price on shares of Whitbread from GBX 4,200 ($53.48) to GBX 4,000 ($50.94) and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 29th. Finally, Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Whitbread in a research report on Thursday, May 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 3,122.50 ($39.76).

Whitbread Trading Down 0.9 %

LON WTB opened at GBX 2,912 ($37.08) on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 144.72. The company has a market capitalization of £5.31 billion, a PE ratio of 1,820.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -3.09 and a beta of 1.08. Whitbread has a 1-year low of GBX 2,848 ($36.27) and a 1-year high of GBX 3,714 ($47.29). The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is GBX 3,051.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 3,302.90.

Whitbread Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 23rd will be given a GBX 62.90 ($0.80) dividend. This is an increase from Whitbread’s previous dividend of $34.10. This represents a dividend yield of 2.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 23rd. Whitbread’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6,062.50%.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Dame Karen Jones bought 900 shares of Whitbread stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 3rd. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 3,004 ($38.25) per share, for a total transaction of £27,036 ($34,427.61). In related news, insider Hemant Patel sold 5,476 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,958 ($37.67), for a total value of £161,980.08 ($206,265.22). Also, insider Dame Karen Jones bought 900 shares of Whitbread stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 3rd. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 3,004 ($38.25) per share, with a total value of £27,036 ($34,427.61). 3.99% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

About Whitbread

Whitbread plc operates hotels and restaurants in the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates hotels with rooms in the United Kingdom; Middle East; and Germany under the Premier Inn, ZIP by Premier Inn, and hub by Premier Inn brands. The company operates restaurants under the Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Cookhouse & Pub, Bar+Block Steakhouse, Thyme, and Table Table brands in the United Kingdom.