Hays (LON:HAS) Shares Break Above 200-Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Hays shares rose above their 200-day moving average, reaching GBX 58.95 and last trading at GBX 57.55, compared with the 200-day average of GBX 48.44.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed: Hays has an overall “Hold” rating and an average price target of GBX 64.60, with targets ranging from GBX 33 to GBX 95.
• The company reported a quarterly loss of GBX 3.64 per share, alongside a negative net margin and return on equity. Insider James Hilton also sold 63,122 shares at GBX 67, while insiders collectively own 0.76% of the company.

Shares of Hays plc (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 48.44 and traded as high as GBX 58.95. Hays shares last traded at GBX 57.55, with a volume of 1,681,526 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HAS has been the topic of a number of research reports. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a GBX 33 price objective on shares of Hays in a report on Friday, July 3rd. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Hays from GBX 33 to GBX 65 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an "underperform" rating and issued a GBX 45 price objective on shares of Hays in a research note on Monday, October 12th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their target price on Hays from GBX 60 to GBX 85 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, August 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Hays from GBX 60 to GBX 95 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Hays presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of GBX 64.60.

Hays Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of £905.33 million, a PE ratio of -15.81, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.77. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 66.09 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 48.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.68, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.18.

Hays (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 20th. The company reported GBX (3.64) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Hays had a negative net margin of 0.91% and a negative return on equity of 13.31%. Equities analysts anticipate that Hays plc will post 4.10 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hays

In other news, insider James Hilton sold 63,122 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 67, for a total value of £42,291.74. Company insiders own 0.76% of the company's stock.

About Hays

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