Hays (LON:HAS) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Here's Why

Key Points

• Shares of Hays plc reached a new 52-week low at GBX 55.35 ($0.75) amid trading, reflecting a decline from its previous close of GBX 57.10 ($0.78).
• Equity analysts have lowered target prices for Hays, with Jefferies cutting their target from GBX 85 to GBX 61, indicating a hold rating on the stock.
• Insider transactions revealed that company insiders purchased a total of 563,720 shares worth approximately $35 million over the last 90 days, showing confidence in the company despite its current stock performance.

Shares of Hays plc (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 55.35 ($0.75) and last traded at GBX 55.70 ($0.75), with a volume of 1043968 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 57.10 ($0.77).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

HAS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on Hays from GBX 100 to GBX 95 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a GBX 70 price objective on shares of Hays in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Hays from GBX 85 to GBX 61 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 11th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Hays from GBX 110 to GBX 90 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 28th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 79.

Hays Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.81, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.31. The company has a market capitalization of £850.09 million, a PE ratio of -10,897.96, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average of GBX 62.16 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 68.99.

Hays (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 21st. The company reported GBX 1.31 EPS for the quarter. Hays had a negative return on equity of 0.84% and a negative net margin of 0.07%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Hays plc will post 4.0966184 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Hays

In related news, insider Joe Hurd acquired 1,923 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 64 per share, with a total value of £1,230.72. Also, insider Michael Findlay bought 33,415 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 21st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 60 per share, for a total transaction of £20,049. Insiders have purchased 529,338 shares of company stock valued at $33,015,972 over the last quarter. 0.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hays Company Profile