Lloyds Banking Group plc (LLOY.L) – What Are Brokerages Saying About This Stock?

Shares of Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 116.

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 121 to GBX 123 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 125 target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a report on Friday, July 31st. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of Lloyds Banking Group to a “sector perform” rating and decreased their target price for the stock from GBX 124 to GBX 115 in a research report on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 125 to GBX 127 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd.

Lloyds Banking Group Trading Down 0.9%

LON LLOY opened at GBX 101.55 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of £58.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.69, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.94. The business’s 50 day moving average is GBX 107.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 104.50. Lloyds Banking Group has a 12-month low of GBX 85.82 and a 12-month high of GBX 123.10.

Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported GBX 4.80 EPS for the quarter. Lloyds Banking Group had a return on equity of 11.05% and a net margin of 26.73%. Equities analysts forecast that Lloyds Banking Group will post 7.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Stories Impacting Lloyds Banking Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Lloyds Banking Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Closing branches could help Lloyds Banking Group reduce its physical-network costs as customers increasingly use online and mobile banking. The company is reportedly closing 10 Lloyds branches in November, while 17 closures across Lloyds and Halifax locations are also being reported. Lloyds Bank is closing 10 branches in November
• Neutral Sentiment: The next Lloyds Banking Group results are an important near-term catalyst. Investors will focus on net interest margins, loan growth, credit impairment charges, capital returns and management guidance when the bank reports. When Lloyds Banking Group reports its latest results
• Neutral Sentiment: Consumer-finance coverage includes a warning for online-banking users ahead of Sunday, but the report does not indicate a fundamental change to Lloyds’ earnings outlook. Martin Lewis online banking warning
• Negative Sentiment: Lloyds’ chief executive reportedly warned that UK banking policies are holding back growth. The comments raise concerns about regulation, competition and the operating environment for the sector. Lloyds chief warns UK banking policies are holding back growth
• Negative Sentiment: Sell-side analysts have rated Lloyds Banking Group “Hold,” signaling limited conviction that the shares will outperform in the near term. Lloyds stock rated Hold by analysts

Insider Activity

In related news, insider William Chalmers sold 8,445,139 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 112, for a total transaction of £9,458,555.68. Also, insider Catherine Woods acquired 1,810 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 23rd. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 110 per share, for a total transaction of £1,991. 0.15% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile

We are the largest UK retail and commercial financial services provider with over 25 million customers and a presence in nearly every community.

The Group’s main business activities are retail and commercial banking, general insurance and long-term savings, provided through the largest branch network and digital bank in the UK, with well recognised brands including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows.

Our shares are quoted on the London and New York stock exchanges and we are one of the largest companies in the FTSE 100 index.