Halma (OTCMKTS:HLMAF) Hits New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Halma shares reached a new 52-week high at $46.00, with a trading volume of 750 shares, up from a previous close of $45.20.
• Analysts have mixed views; while Goldman Sachs and Kepler Capital Markets have upgraded Halma to a "strong-buy", Zacks Research has downgraded it to a "hold".
• Halma recently declared a special dividend of $0.19, representing a significant yield of 71.0%.

Halma (OTCMKTS:HLMAF - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $46.00 and last traded at $46.00, with a volume of 750 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.20.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an "underperform" rating on shares of Halma in a report on Thursday, June 12th. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded shares of Halma to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 19th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Halma from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Halma to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Halma in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy".

Halma Price Performance

The business's 50-day moving average is $44.12 and its 200-day moving average is $40.06. The company has a current ratio of 2.44, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37.

Halma Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a special dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 11th were given a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 71.0%.

Halma Company Profile

Halma plc, together its subsidiaries, provides technology solutions in the safety, health, and environmental markets in the United States, Mainland Europe, the United Kingdom, the Asia Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Safety, Environmental & Analysis, and Medical.