Kier Group (LON:KIE) Stock Price Down 6.9%

Shares of Kier Group plc (LON:KIE) dropped 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). Approximately 7,491,476 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 298% from the average daily volume of 1,880,794 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 150.20 ($1.96).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Kier Group Stock Down 6.9 %

The firm has a market cap of £616.14 million, a PE ratio of 1,551.11, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 1.14. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 152.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 142.33. 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 company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 24th will be paid a GBX 3.48 ($0.05) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.32%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 24th. This is an increase from Kier Group’s previous dividend of $1.67. Kier Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 3,333.33%.

Insider Activity at Kier Group

In other Kier Group news, insider Matthew Lester bought 7,340 shares of Kier Group stock in a transaction on Friday, June 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 136 ($1.78) per share, with a total value of £9,982.40 ($13,054.01). 5.81% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.