BAE Systems (LON:BA) Shares Up 1.3% – Should You Buy?

Shares of BAE Systems plc (LON:BA) shot up 1.3% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1,923.50 and last traded at GBX 1,923.50. 3,637,495 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,898.50.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of BAE Systems from GBX 2,140 to GBX 2,325 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of BAE Systems from GBX 2,400 to GBX 2,450 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and set a GBX 2,100 price objective on shares of BAE Systems in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a GBX 2,200 target price on shares of BAE Systems in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, BAE Systems currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of GBX 2,275.

BAE Systems Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 73.96, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 2,036.14 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 2,055.04. The firm has a market capitalization of £58.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.01.

BAE Systems (LON:BA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported GBX 38.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. BAE Systems had a return on equity of 17.49% and a net margin of 7.19%. On average, research analysts predict that BAE Systems plc will post 73.537927 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider John Pettigrew purchased 7,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 2,228 per share, with a total value of £155,960. Insiders have acquired 7,030 shares of company stock valued at $15,652,410 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

BAE Systems Company Profile

BAE Systems plc provides defense, aerospace, and security solutions worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Electronic Systems, Platforms & Services, Air, Maritime, and Cyber & Intelligence. The Electronic Systems segment offers electronic warfare systems, navigation systems, electro-optical sensors, military and commercial digital engine and flight controls, precision guidance and seeker solutions, military communication systems and data links, persistent surveillance capabilities, space electronics, and electric drive propulsion systems.