Bard Financial Services Inc. Sells 159,500 Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG)

Bard Financial Services Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG) by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,412,805 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 159,500 shares during the period. Bard Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Lloyds Banking Group were worth $7,528,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in LYG. Clearbridge Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Lloyds Banking Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,252,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 49.6% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,577,101 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $23,415,000 after purchasing an additional 2,841,956 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 14.7% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 19,280,034 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $60,154,000 after purchasing an additional 2,472,263 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its holdings in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 114.5% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,487,006 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $6,790,000 after acquiring an additional 1,327,589 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 25.3% in the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 5,087,379 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $13,889,000 after acquiring an additional 1,026,639 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 2.15% of the company’s stock.

Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance

Lloyds Banking Group stock opened at $2.81 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.48. Lloyds Banking Group plc has a 1-year low of $2.00 and a 1-year high of $3.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.88 and a beta of 1.33. The company’s 50-day moving average is $2.89 and its 200 day moving average is $2.92.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Kepler Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Thursday, September 5th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Friday, October 4th. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Lloyds Banking Group from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $2.75.

About Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates in three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal customers.