Essentra (LON:ESNT) Reaches New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Key Points

• Essentra hit a new 52-week low, trading as low as GBX 87.90 and last at GBX 89.27 on heavy volume (749,704 shares), with the stock down about 1.2%.
• Sell-side analysts still show a consensus Buy rating and an average price target of GBX 164, despite several recent target cuts.
• Insiders bought shares recently (totaling 61,871 in the quarter) even as the company shows weak profitability (net margin 0.7%, ROE 0.79%), a high debt-to-equity ratio (47.67) and a low quick ratio (0.50).

Essentra plc (LON:ESNT - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 87.90 and last traded at GBX 89.27, with a volume of 749704 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 90.34.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on ESNT shares. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Essentra to GBX 130 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 18th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 160 target price on shares of Essentra in a research note on Thursday, March 19th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating on shares of Essentra in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on Essentra from GBX 165 to GBX 150 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of GBX 164.

Essentra Trading Down 1.2%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 2.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 47.67. The company's fifty day moving average price is GBX 101.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 100.44. The firm has a market cap of £254.26 million, a PE ratio of 27.05, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.86.

Essentra (LON:ESNT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 17th. The company reported GBX 6.10 EPS for the quarter. Essentra had a net margin of 0.70% and a return on equity of 0.79%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Essentra plc will post 524.137931 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Essentra

In related news, insider Kath Durrant purchased 10,894 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 91 per share, with a total value of £9,913.54. Also, insider Rowan Baker purchased 10,977 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 91 per share, with a total value of £9,989.07. Over the last quarter, insiders acquired 61,871 shares of company stock valued at $5,710,261. 0.48% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Essentra

Essentra plc is a leading global provider of essential components and solutions, focusing on the manufacture and distribution of plastic injection moulded, vinyl dip moulded and metal items. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Essentra's global network extends to 28 countries worldwide and includes c.3,000 employees, 14 manufacturing facilities, 26 distribution centres and 37 sales & service centres serving c.64,000 customers with a rapid supply of low cost but essential products for a variety of applications in industries such as equipment manufacturing, automotive, fabrication, electronics, medical and renewable energy.

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