Judges Scientific (LON:JDG) Posts Earnings Results

Judges Scientific (LON:JDG) announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported GBX 39 EPS for the quarter, Digital Look Earnings reports. Judges Scientific had a return on equity of 6.24% and a net margin of 3.77%.

Judges Scientific Stock Down 1.8%

Shares of LON JDG traded down GBX 70 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching GBX 3,720. 204,784 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 20,382. Judges Scientific has a 1 year low of GBX 3,480 and a 1 year high of GBX 6,500. The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 4,191.54 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 4,384.42. The stock has a market cap of £247.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.70, a P/E/G ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.90.

Key Stories Impacting Judges Scientific

Here are the key news stories impacting Judges Scientific this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management raised the interim dividend and maintained its full-year guidance, suggesting it expects trading conditions to improve or remain broadly on plan. Berenberg also reaffirmed its “buy” rating and set a GBX 5,600 price target, well above the current trading level. Judges Scientific H1 Slips Into Loss; Raises Interim Dividend
• Positive Sentiment: The group continues to benefit from its diversified portfolio of scientific-instrument businesses, while the reaffirmed outlook provides some reassurance that management views the first-half weakness as temporary. Judges Scientific H1 Revenue Falls 21% to £55.7 Million, Maintains Full-Year Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: First-half revenue fell 21% to £55.7 million. The company reported an adjusted loss of about 19.5 pence per share, although the results were affected by subdued demand and difficult conditions in the U.S. research market. Judges Scientific H1 Revenue GBP55.7 Million
• Negative Sentiment: Investors are concerned that U.S. government and research-funding cuts are continuing to delay or reduce orders from customers, creating uncertainty over the pace of recovery. Judges Scientific Continues to Struggle Due to US Research Cuts
• Negative Sentiment: The shares moved below their 200-day moving average, a technical signal that may reinforce bearish sentiment. The stock is also trading substantially below its 12-month high, while the reported loss and weak revenue growth make its relatively high valuation harder to justify. Judges Scientific Share Price Passes Below 200-Day Moving Average

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Bradley Leonard Ormsby purchased 63 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 4,917 per share, for a total transaction of £3,097.71. Also, insider Ralph Elman purchased 122 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 4,917 per share, for a total transaction of £5,998.74. 9.92% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

JDG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Berenberg Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 5,600 target price on shares of Judges Scientific in a report on Wednesday. Shore Capital Group restated a “house stock” rating on shares of Judges Scientific in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, Judges Scientific currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of GBX 6,490.

About Judges Scientific

Judges Scientific plc (AIM: JDG), is a group focused on acquiring and developing companies in the scientific instrument sector. The Group now consists of 23 businesses acquired since 2005.

The acquired companies are primarily UK-based with products sold worldwide to a diverse range of markets including: higher education institutions, scientific research facilities, manufacturers and regulatory authorities. The UK is a recognised centre of excellence for scientific instruments. The Group has received five Queen’s Awards for innovation and export.

The Group’s companies predominantly operate in global niche markets, with long term growth fundamentals and resilient margins.

Judges Scientific maintains a policy of selectively acquiring businesses that generate sustainable profits and cash.