Kier Group (LON:KIE) Shares Down 6.9%

Kier Group plc (LON:KIE)’s share price fell 6.9% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as GBX 134.61 ($1.76) and last traded at GBX 139.80 ($1.83). 7,491,476 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 298% from the average session volume of 1,880,794 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 150.20 ($1.96).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Berenberg Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 210 ($2.75) target price on shares of Kier Group in a research report on Thursday.

Kier Group Stock Performance

The firm’s 50-day moving average price is GBX 152.37 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 142.33. The stock has a market cap of £616.14 million, a P/E ratio of 1,551.11, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 94.84, a current ratio of 0.80 and a quick ratio of 0.69.

Kier Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 24th will be given a GBX 3.48 ($0.05) dividend. This represents a yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 24th. This is an increase from Kier Group’s previous dividend of $1.67. Kier Group’s dividend payout ratio is 3,333.33%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Matthew Lester acquired 7,340 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 136 ($1.78) per share, with a total value of £9,982.40 ($13,054.01). Insiders own 5.81% of the company’s stock.

Kier Group Company Profile

Kier Group plc primarily engages in the construction business in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Construction, Infrastructure Services, and Property. It constructs power stations, roads, bridges, railways, tunnels, and buildings for public and private sectors including schools, hospitals and prisons; and provides maintenance services for the UK road, rail, and utilities infrastructure, as well as reactive repairs.