Exane Asset Management Takes $5.38 Million Position in Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW)

Exane Asset Management acquired a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 99,802 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,375,000. Smurfit Westrock makes up approximately 3.0% of Exane Asset Management’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in SW. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Smurfit Westrock during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. CVA Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Smurfit Westrock during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its holdings in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 117.7% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 516 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 83.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Saverio Mayer sold 25,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.84, for a total transaction of $1,371,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 149,911 shares in the company, valued at $8,221,119.24. The trade was a 14.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.49% of the company’s stock.

Smurfit Westrock Stock Performance

NYSE:SW opened at $54.00 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. Smurfit Westrock Ltd has a twelve month low of $38.55 and a twelve month high of $56.99. The company has a fifty day moving average of $53.72 and a 200-day moving average of $49.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $28.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 299.99 and a beta of 1.02.

Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.4308 dividend. This is an increase from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.19%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. Smurfit Westrock’s payout ratio is 672.26%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on SW shares. Citigroup increased their price objective on Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Argus assumed coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $62.00 price target for the company. Truist Financial initiated coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued a “buy” rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $58.00 target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $60.70.

Smurfit Westrock Profile

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.