Aviva (LON:AV) Trading Up 1% – Time to Buy?

Aviva plc (LON:AV) was up 1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 662.80 and last traded at GBX 661.80. Approximately 3,977,219 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at GBX 655.20.

Key Aviva News

Here are the key news stories impacting Aviva this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Director/insider buying may signal confidence in Aviva’s outlook: Charlotte Jones bought 36 shares and Pippa Lambert bought 226 shares at prices near the current trading range. Aviva (LON:AV) Insider Buys 36 Shares of Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Recent analyst commentary remains constructive overall, with multiple firms maintaining Buy/Outperform ratings and a consensus target above the current trading level, supporting the stock. Aviva price performance and analyst coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: UK regulators are monitoring reports that an outside group is approaching Aviva shareholders in a possible scam, and Aviva has warned investors to be cautious; this is more of a reputational/legal overhang than a direct operating issue so far. UK regulator eyes Litani circling Aviva shareholders
• Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage about a “shares scam” has increased attention on Aviva, but the headlines relate to shareholder solicitation rather than Aviva’s core business performance. Minister sounds alarm over Aviva shares scam after US predator targets private investors
• Negative Sentiment: The warning about a potential investor scam could create short-term uncertainty and distract from the company’s normal trading narrative if it escalates further. Aviva issues warning as US predator targets shareholders

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on AV. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Aviva from GBX 725 to GBX 715 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a GBX 800 target price on shares of Aviva in a research report on Friday, June 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a GBX 637 price target on shares of Aviva in a research note on Friday, May 15th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a GBX 770 price target on shares of Aviva in a report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 750 price target on shares of Aviva in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Aviva presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of GBX 719.12.

Aviva Stock Up 0.3%

The firm has a market capitalization of £17.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 85.66. The company’s 50 day moving average price is GBX 634.06 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 639.91.

Insider Transactions at Aviva

In other news, insider Amanda Blanc acquired 10,258 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 621 per share, with a total value of £63,702.18. Also, insider Pippa Lambert acquired 226 shares of Aviva stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 662 per share, with a total value of £1,496.12. In the last ninety days, insiders have acquired 17,620 shares of company stock valued at $10,951,480. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Aviva Company Profile

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. It also provides insurance cover to individuals, small and medium-sized businesses for risks associated with motor vehicles and medical expenses, as well as property and liability, such as employers' and professional indemnity liabilities.