Balefire LLC Lowers Stake in Smurfit Westrock PLC $SW

Balefire LLC lowered its stake in Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW) by 65.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 7,085 shares of the company’s stock after selling 13,311 shares during the quarter. Balefire LLC’s holdings in Smurfit Westrock were worth $328,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock during the second quarter worth about $29,000. DV Equities LLC purchased a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Root Financial Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 187.6% during the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 768 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the company’s stock.

Smurfit Westrock Trading Up 2.8%

Smurfit Westrock stock opened at $48.23 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $25.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.31, a P/E/G ratio of 0.83 and a beta of 0.96. Smurfit Westrock PLC has a one year low of $32.73 and a one year high of $52.65. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $44.82 and a 200-day moving average of $43.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 0.96.

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.07). Smurfit Westrock had a net margin of 1.59% and a return on equity of 4.60%. The firm had revenue of $8.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.93 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.05) earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Smurfit Westrock PLC will post 2.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Smurfit Westrock Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $0.4523 per share. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. Smurfit Westrock’s dividend payout ratio is currently 192.55%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Smurfit Westrock from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $57.00 price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $52.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday. Loop Capital set a $71.00 price target on Smurfit Westrock in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $55.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Smurfit Westrock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $57.62.

About Smurfit Westrock

Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.