Auction Technology Group (LON:ATG) Trading 12.6% Higher – Time to Buy?

Auction Technology Group plc (LON:ATG)’s stock price shot up 12.6% during trading on Saturday . The company traded as high as GBX 370 and last traded at GBX 362. 1,920,300 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 100% from the average session volume of 958,306 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 321.50.

Key Stories Impacting Auction Technology Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Auction Technology Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: FitzWalter reportedly increased its takeover bid, directly supporting a premium on ATG shares. Auction Technology shares rise as FitzWalter increases takeover bid
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage says FitzWalter is considering an increased takeover offer, keeping takeover speculation elevated. Auction Technology surges as FitzWalter considers increased takeover offer
• Positive Sentiment: MarketWatch reports a shareholder indicated a higher offer proposal, which investors interpreted as likely to lift any final deal price. Auction Technology Shares Jump After Shareholder Indicates Higher Offer Proposal
• Positive Sentiment: Media outlets report FitzWalter raised its buyout figure (coverage cites roughly $658m), reinforcing takeover momentum. FitzWalter Capital raises buyout bid for UK’s Auction Technology to $658 million
• Neutral Sentiment: Newswire and market sites note the share surge and heavy trading — the move reflects takeover speculation rather than new operational news. Auction Technology Group stock soars after increased takeover offer
• Negative Sentiment: Fundamentals remain mixed: market cap ~£438m, negative P/E, elevated debt-to-equity (~18.16) and a below‑1 current ratio — these increase execution/risk considerations if a deal stalls.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on ATG. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Auction Technology Group from GBX 415 to GBX 315 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Peel Hunt decreased their target price on Auction Technology Group from GBX 730 to GBX 460 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Auction Technology Group from GBX 690 to GBX 695 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reduced their price objective on shares of Auction Technology Group from GBX 560 to GBX 460 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 27th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of GBX 549.

Auction Technology Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.16, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 1.36. The stock has a market capitalization of £438.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.06 and a beta of 1.29. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 291.14 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 339.95.

About Auction Technology Group

Auction Technology Group plc (“ATG”) is the operator of the world’s leading marketplaces and auction services for curated online auctions, seamlessly connecting bidders from around the world to over 3,800 trusted auction houses across two major sectors: Industrial & Commercial (“I&C”) and Art & Antiques (“A&A”).

The Group powers eight online marketplaces and listing sites using its proprietary auction platform technology, hosting in excess of 70,000 live and timed auctions each year. ATG has been supporting the auction industry since 1971 and the Group has offices in the UK, US and Germany.