Essentra (LON:ESNT) Shares Cross Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Essentra plc (LON:ESNT - Get Free Report)'s stock price crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 118.02 ($1.60) and traded as low as GBX 97.20 ($1.32). Essentra shares last traded at GBX 98.50 ($1.33), with a volume of 224,994 shares.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 170 ($2.30) price target on shares of Essentra in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st.

Essentra Stock Down 1.8%

The firm's 50 day moving average is GBX 95.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 116.54. The firm has a market cap of £272.20 million, a P/E ratio of 78.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.89.

Essentra (LON:ESNT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 19th. The company reported GBX 8.50 ($0.12) earnings per share for the quarter. Essentra had a net margin of 1.13% and a return on equity of 1.28%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Essentra plc will post 524.137931 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Essentra Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be paid a GBX 1.55 ($0.02) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a yield of 1.41%. This is a positive change from Essentra's previous dividend of $1.25. Essentra's payout ratio is presently 329.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Essentra

In other Essentra news, insider Rowan Baker acquired 10,036 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 24th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 104 ($1.41) per share, with a total value of £10,437.44 ($14,139.04). Also, insider Steve Good acquired 35,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 20th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 109 ($1.48) per share, for a total transaction of £38,150 ($51,679.76). Insiders own 0.99% of the company's stock.

Essentra Company Profile

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.