Aviva (LON:AV) Trading Down 0.1% - Time to Sell?

Aviva plc (LON:AV - Get Free Report)'s share price traded down 0.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 473.60 ($6.15) and last traded at GBX 473.80 ($6.15). 3,057,116 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at GBX 474.10 ($6.16).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on AV. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Aviva in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Aviva from GBX 525 ($6.82) to GBX 550 ($7.14) and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a GBX 545 ($7.08) target price on shares of Aviva in a research report on Friday, July 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 524.80 ($6.81).

Aviva Price Performance

The stock's 50 day simple moving average is GBX 489.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 482.82. The stock has a market capitalization of £12.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,005.65, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 67.09, a current ratio of 2.17 and a quick ratio of 1.57.

Aviva Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 5th were paid a GBX 11.90 ($0.15) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 5th. Aviva's payout ratio is 7,391.30%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Amanda Blanc bought 6,250 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 499 ($6.48) per share, for a total transaction of £31,187.50 ($40,492.73). In other Aviva news, insider Amanda Blanc bought 6,250 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 499 ($6.48) per share, for a total transaction of £31,187.50 ($40,492.73). Also, insider Pippa Lambert bought 987 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, September 30th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 489 ($6.35) per share, for a total transaction of £4,826.43 ($6,266.46). Company insiders own 0.17% of the company's stock.

About Aviva

Aviva plc provides various insurance, retirement, investment, and savings products in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, and internationally. The company offers life insurance, long-term health and accident insurance, savings, pension, and annuity products, as well as pension fund business and lifetime mortgage products.