Hays (LON:HAS) Hits New 1-Year Low - Time to Sell?

Hays plc (LON:HAS - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 78.75 ($1.02) and last traded at GBX 79 ($1.03), with a volume of 1850582 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 79.51 ($1.03).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on HAS shares. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 115 ($1.49) price objective on shares of Hays in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a GBX 125 ($1.62) price target on shares of Hays in a report on Friday, August 23rd.

Hays Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of £1.27 billion, a PE ratio of 1,905.00, a PEG ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 89.79 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 94.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.81, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.31.

Hays Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 17th will be given a GBX 2.05 ($0.03) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.16%. This is a boost from Hays's previous dividend of $0.95.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Joe Hurd acquired 2,208 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 90 ($1.17) per share, with a total value of £1,987.20 ($2,580.11). In related news, insider Joe Hurd acquired 2,208 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 90 ($1.17) per share, with a total value of £1,987.20 ($2,580.11). Also, insider James Hilton sold 53,038 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 88 ($1.14), for a total value of £46,673.44 ($60,599.12). Company insiders own 0.54% of the company's stock.

Hays Company Profile

Hays plc engages in the provision of recruitment services in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company provides qualified, professional, and skilled recruitment in permanent, temporary, and contractor formats to public and private sectors. It offers its recruitment services in the specialisms, such as accountancy and finance, banking and capital markets, construction and property, contact centers, education, energy, oil and gas, engineering and manufacturing, executive, financial services, health and social care, human resources, legal, life sciences, office support, procurement, resources and mining, retail, sales and marketing, sustainability, technology, and telecoms.