Beazley (LON:BEZ) Trading 40.5% Higher – Still a Buy?

Beazley plc (LON:BEZ) shares shot up 40.5% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as GBX 1,195 and last traded at GBX 1,152.45. 15,440,655 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 107% from the average session volume of 7,449,580 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 820.

Key Headlines Impacting Beazley

Here are the key news stories impacting Beazley this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Unsolicited all-cash approach introduces potential takeover premium for shareholders and a clear catalyst for re-rating if talks progress or a revised bid is made. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom
• Neutral Sentiment: Beazley formally rejected the initial approach and the offer is non-binding and conditional — there is interest but no agreement yet, so outcome and timing remain uncertain. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom
• Negative Sentiment: Ongoing takeover speculation brings deal uncertainty, possible distraction for management, and the risk that talks stall or any final offer may be subject to regulatory or shareholder hurdles; a rejected initial approach could also lead to volatility if no enhanced bid emerges. Beazley Rejects Initial Zurich Approach as Takeover Talks Loom

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BEZ has been the topic of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Beazley from GBX 1,000 to GBX 1,040 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Berenberg Bank dropped their price objective on Beazley from GBX 1,150 to GBX 1,100 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Peel Hunt reiterated an “add” rating and issued a GBX 900 target price on shares of Beazley in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Beazley from GBX 1,000 to GBX 1,100 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Beazley from GBX 1,050 to GBX 1,025 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Beazley currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of GBX 1,033.

Beazley Trading Up 40.5%

The stock has a market capitalization of £6.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 0.68. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is GBX 829.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 855.62.

About Beazley

Beazley plc provides risk insurance and reinsurance solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and internationally. It operates through Cyber Risks, Digital, MAP Risks, Property Risks, and Specialty Risks segments. The Cyber Risk segment underwrites cyber and technology risks. The Digital segment underwrites various marine, contingency, and SME liability risks through digital channels, such as e-trading platforms and broker portals. The MAP Risks segment underwrites marine, portfolio underwriting and political, and contingency business.