Essentra (LON:ESNT) Stock Price Crosses Below 200 Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Shares of Essentra plc (LON:ESNT - Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 113.77 ($1.54) and traded as low as GBX 97.50 ($1.32). Essentra shares last traded at GBX 99.30 ($1.35), with a volume of 218,987 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Berenberg Bank restated a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 170 ($2.31) target price on shares of Essentra in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st.

Essentra Stock Down 0.6%

The company has a current ratio of 1.97, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.89. The stock has a market capitalization of £285.42 million, a P/E ratio of 81.80, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 1.18. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is GBX 95.34 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 113.77.

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

Essentra Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity at Essentra

In other Essentra news, insider Rowan Baker acquired 10,036 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 24th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 104 ($1.41) per share, with a total value of £10,437.44 ($14,162.06). Also, insider Steve Good purchased 35,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 109 ($1.48) per share, for a total transaction of £38,150 ($51,763.91). Insiders own 0.99% of the company's stock.

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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