Hays (LON:HAS) Sets New 52-Week Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• 52-week low: Hays shares hit a new 52-week low of GBX 30.88 (last GBX 31.36) on heavy volume of 28,981,217 and are trading well below their 50‑day (GBX 43.51) and 200‑day (GBX 51.98) moving averages.
• Analyst view is mixed but tilted positive: Deutsche Bank cut its price target from GBX 100 to GBX 90 while keeping a "buy" rating, and the consensus is a Moderate Buy with an average price target of GBX 81.20—well above the current share price.
• Weak fundamentals include a negative P/E (-63.36), negative net margin (‑0.16%) and ROE (‑2.24%) with debt/equity of 65.55, yet insiders purchased 30,500 shares at GBX 39 (insiders own 0.76%), indicating some insider confidence.

Shares of Hays plc (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as GBX 30.88 and last traded at GBX 31.36, with a volume of 28981217 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 31.50.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of Hays from GBX 100 to GBX 90 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Hays currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 81.20.

Hays Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of £496.40 million, a P/E ratio of -63.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.75. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is GBX 43.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 51.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 65.55, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.31.

Hays (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The company reported GBX 0.46 earnings per share for the quarter. Hays had a negative net margin of 0.16% and a negative return on equity of 2.24%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Hays plc will post 4.0966184 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Hays

In other Hays news, insider Michael Findlay purchased 25,500 shares of Hays stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 39 per share, with a total value of £9,945. Also, insider Cheryl Millington acquired 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 39 per share, with a total value of £1,950. 0.76% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Hays

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