Hays (LON:HAS) Sets New 12-Month Low - What's Next?

Key Points

• Hays plc's stock reached a new 52-week low at GBX 52.95 ($0.71) during mid-day trading on Monday, with a trading volume of over 55 million shares.
• Analysts have lowered their price targets for Hays, with estimates now ranging between GBX 61 and GBX 95, while the stock maintains a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy."
• Insider activity has increased, with executives acquiring a total of 529,338 shares valued at approximately £33 million over the last three months.

Hays plc (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 52.95 ($0.72) and last traded at GBX 53.53 ($0.72), with a volume of 55148262 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 53.40 ($0.72).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on HAS shares. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Hays from GBX 85 to GBX 61 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 11th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Hays from GBX 100 to GBX 95 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 22nd. Citigroup decreased their price target on Hays from GBX 110 to GBX 90 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 28th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and set a GBX 70 target price on shares of Hays in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hays currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 79.

Hays Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.81, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.32. The firm has a market capitalization of £852.48 million, a P/E ratio of -10,928.57, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 61.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 68.72.

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

Insider Transactions at Hays

In other Hays news, insider Michael Findlay purchased 33,415 shares of Hays stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 60 per share, with a total value of £20,049. Also, insider Joe Hurd purchased 1,923 shares of Hays stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 21st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 64 per share, for a total transaction of £1,230.72. Insiders have bought 529,338 shares of company stock valued at $33,015,972 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.80% of the company's stock.

About Hays