Croda International (LON:CRDA) Reaches New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Croda International Plc (LON:CRDA) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as GBX 3,359 and last traded at GBX 3,336.50, with a volume of 395589 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 3,335.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 3,600 price target on shares of Croda International in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 3,500 target price on shares of Croda International in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Croda International from GBX 3,050 to GBX 3,200 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a GBX 3,300 price target on shares of Croda International in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 3,390.

Croda International Stock Up 0.7%

The firm has a market cap of £4.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 59.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.92. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is GBX 3,086.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 2,962.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 36.06, a quick ratio of 2.25 and a current ratio of 2.57.

Croda International (LON:CRDA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported GBX 72.20 earnings per share for the quarter. Croda International had a net margin of 4.61% and a return on equity of 3.65%. Research analysts anticipate that Croda International Plc will post 181.8307268 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Croda International

In related news, insider Stephen Oxley sold 1,339 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 3,214, for a total value of £43,035.46. In the last quarter, insiders have bought 35 shares of company stock valued at $107,620. Corporate insiders own 0.83% of the company’s stock.

About Croda International

Founded in 1925 with the aim of turning bio-based raw materials into innovative ingredients, Croda International is a speciality chemicals company focused on consumer care and life sciences markets. The company is focused on creating, making and selling innovative ingredients that deliver real benefits to a diverse range of customers and employs more than 6,000 people around the world. Sustainability is a core part of the Groups strategy with a commitment to be Climate, Land and People positive by 2030.