GAP (NYSE:GPS) Research Coverage Started at StockNews.com

StockNews.com began coverage on shares of GAP (NYSE:GPS) in a research report sent to investors on Sunday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the apparel retailer’s stock.

Several other analysts have also commented on GPS. Morgan Stanley raised shares of GAP from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $27.00 to $29.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. TD Cowen upgraded GAP from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $28.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 25th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their target price on GAP from $22.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Bank of America upgraded GAP from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the stock from $18.50 to $25.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on GAP from $17.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, GAP currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $26.51.

GAP Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $9.21 billion, a PE ratio of 13.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 2.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 1.50. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $22.88. GAP has a 1 year low of $9.38 and a 1 year high of $30.75.

GAP Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 9th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of ∞. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 9th. GAP’s payout ratio is 33.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at GAP

In other news, Director Tracy Gardner sold 2,934 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.48, for a total transaction of $68,890.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 51,901 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,218,635.48. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 30.81% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GPS. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in shares of GAP by 33.0% in the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 367,130 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $7,677,000 after purchasing an additional 91,151 shares in the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S purchased a new position in shares of GAP during the fourth quarter worth approximately $73,000. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board bought a new stake in shares of GAP in the 4th quarter worth approximately $220,000. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new stake in shares of GAP in the 4th quarter valued at $349,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in GAP in the 4th quarter worth $197,000. Institutional investors own 58.81% of the company’s stock.

About GAP

The Gap, Inc operates as an apparel retail company. The company offers apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands. Its products include adult apparel and accessories; and fitness and lifestyle products for use in yoga, training, sports, travel, and everyday activities for women and girls.