Whitbread (LON:WTB) Shares Cross Above 200-Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Whitbread plc (LON:WTB)’s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 3,012.63 ($39.11) and traded as high as GBX 3,352 ($43.52). Whitbread shares last traded at GBX 3,306 ($42.92), with a volume of 897,790 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on WTB shares. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Whitbread to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Whitbread in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 4,000 ($51.93) price objective on shares of Whitbread in a report on Thursday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Whitbread from GBX 39 ($0.51) to GBX 40 ($0.52) and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of GBX 2,746.67 ($35.66).

Whitbread Trading Down 0.6 %

The business’s 50-day moving average is GBX 3,037.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 3,012.67. The stock has a market capitalization of £5.88 billion, a PE ratio of 2,058.13, a PEG ratio of -3.09 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 144.72.

Whitbread Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 6th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 31st will be issued a GBX 34.60 ($0.45) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 31st. Whitbread’s payout ratio is currently 6,062.50%.

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.