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

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of GAP (NYSE:GPS) in a report published on Monday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the apparel retailer’s stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on GAP from $17.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Morgan Stanley upgraded GAP from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $27.00 to $29.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Barclays boosted their price objective on GAP from $28.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, June 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on GAP from $20.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group upped their price target on GAP from $22.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $27.08.

GAP Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $9.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 2.38. GAP has a 52-week low of $9.38 and a 52-week high of $30.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.50 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $23.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $22.91.

GAP Announces Dividend

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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 9th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of ∞. GAP’s payout ratio is 33.33%.

Insider Activity at GAP

In related news, Director Tracy Gardner sold 2,934 shares of the company’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 sale, the director now owns 51,901 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,218,635.48. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 30.81% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GPS. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in GAP by 25.8% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,157 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 443 shares during the period. Plato Investment Management Ltd raised its stake in GAP by 37.2% during the 1st quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd now owns 1,965 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 533 shares during the period. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S acquired a new position in GAP during the 4th quarter worth approximately $73,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its stake in GAP by 4,441.3% during the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 4,950 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $118,000 after buying an additional 4,841 shares during the period. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new position in GAP during the 4th quarter worth approximately $197,000. 58.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.