Financial Trading Blog

Stock of the day 27/03/2015 – Compass Group PLC




Following the horsemeat hubbub, Compass Group started 2014 at £9.68 and after enduring an autumn slump closed out the year at £11.02. This led to a New Year price of £11.09, before the stock fell to £10.57 in the first week of January. However since then things have been largely positive for Compass, with the stock peaking at £12.02 at the end of last week, before falling off slightly to currently trade at £11.63.

Compass Group Chart March 2015
(Source: IT-Finance.com 27/03/2015)

Whilst Compass isn’t a glamorous stock, it has a market cap of £20 billion and near £18 million in annual revenues. What makes it even more attractive is the fact that in the last 6 years has seen an average post-tax profits rise of 8% annually, whilst its dividend has raised an average of 14% year on year in the same period. In regards to its latest full year announcement, back in November Compass Group saw a 4.1% growth in revenue alongside a 5.9% increase in operating profit to £1.245 billion and a 10.5% gain in earnings per share to £0.487.

In other news, Compass Group announced a new 10-year partnership with Excel London, whilst Eurest, the American-wing of the company, revealed a catering deal with Volkswagen for its UK offices. In more positive PR, Compass furthered its pledge to go ‘cage-free’ by changing the liquid eggs it uses.

Due to the lack of news surrounding Compass Group, analysts are mixed on the stock, with 5 ‘buy’ ratings, 5 ‘hold’ and one ‘sell’ giving it a consensus rating of ‘hold’.



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