Barclays (NYSE:BCS) Reaches New 12-Month High on Earnings Beat

Barclays PLC (NYSE:BCS) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock traded as high as $15.47 and last traded at $15.39, with a volume of 204018 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $14.88.

The financial services provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.15. Barclays had a net margin of 20.81% and a return on equity of 7.74%.

Barclays Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.2737 dividend. This represents a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This is an increase from Barclays’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.27. Barclays’s payout ratio is 16.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Barclays from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Barclays

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Stonehage Fleming Financial Services Holdings Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Barclays during the 4th quarter valued at $599,000. ABC Arbitrage SA bought a new stake in shares of Barclays during the 4th quarter valued at $21,514,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA bought a new stake in shares of Barclays during the 3rd quarter valued at $3,647,000. Dorsey Wright & Associates bought a new stake in shares of Barclays during the 3rd quarter valued at $3,276,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in shares of Barclays by 3,073.2% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 689,413 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $9,052,000 after acquiring an additional 667,687 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 3.39% of the company’s stock.

Barclays Stock Performance

The business’s 50-day moving average price is $14.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.33, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a current ratio of 1.29. The stock has a market cap of $55.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 1.41.

About Barclays

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services.