Vesuvius (LON:VSVS) Stock Price Crosses Below 200 Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Vesuvius shares fell below their 200-day moving average of GBX 421.68, trading as low as GBX 370.80 and last changing hands at GBX 374.40.
• Analysts have trimmed several price targets, but the stock retains a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating with an average target of GBX 459; ratings include three Buys and two Holds.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of GBX 16.30, while profitability remained modest with a 2.09% net margin and 3.36% return on equity. Insider Patrick André also sold 55,936 shares for approximately £205,844.

Vesuvius plc (LON:VSVS - Get Free Report) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 421.68 and traded as low as GBX 370.80. Vesuvius shares last traded at GBX 374.40, with a volume of 277,755 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VSVS has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Vesuvius from GBX 520 to GBX 480 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Vesuvius from GBX 440 to GBX 400 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Berenberg Bank decreased their price target on shares of Vesuvius from GBX 520 to GBX 450 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Peel Hunt restated a "buy" rating and set a GBX 525 price target on shares of Vesuvius in a report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a GBX 440 price objective on shares of Vesuvius in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vesuvius presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 459.

Vesuvius Trading Up 0.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 56.90, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 386.33 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 421.68. The firm has a market capitalization of £921.77 million, a PE ratio of 24.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 1.13.

Vesuvius (LON:VSVS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported GBX 16.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Vesuvius had a return on equity of 3.36% and a net margin of 2.09%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Vesuvius plc will post 51.3945695 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vesuvius

In other news, insider Patrick André sold 55,936 shares of Vesuvius stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 368, for a total transaction of £205,844.48. 25.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Vesuvius

We are a global leader in metal flow engineering, providing a full range of engineering services and solutions to its customers worldwide, principally serving the steel and foundry industries.

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