Blue Trust Inc. Invests $579,000 in Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW)

Blue Trust Inc. acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 10,747 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $579,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in SW. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the fourth quarter valued at about $5,252,000. Private Management Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter valued at approximately $9,405,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Smurfit Westrock by 29.1% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 42,487 shares of the company's stock worth $2,309,000 after purchasing an additional 9,581 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter worth $597,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new stake in Smurfit Westrock during the 3rd quarter valued at $520,000. Institutional investors own 83.38% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Smurfit Westrock

In related news, insider Saverio Mayer sold 25,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.84, for a total value of $1,371,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 149,911 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,221,119.24. This trade represents a 14.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Ken Bowles sold 24,225 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.06, for a total transaction of $1,333,828.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 111,458 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,136,877.48. This represents a 17.85 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.49% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Smurfit Westrock Stock Down 2.3 %

Shares of Smurfit Westrock stock traded down $1.26 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $54.06. The company had a trading volume of 2,850,236 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,380,786. Smurfit Westrock Ltd has a 52-week low of $38.55 and a 52-week high of $56.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 98.29 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a 50 day moving average of $53.60 and a 200 day moving average of $49.90.

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.67 by ($0.33). Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 6.16% and a net margin of 0.63%. On average, equities analysts predict that Smurfit Westrock Ltd will post 3.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.4308 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.19%. This is a boost from Smurfit Westrock's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Smurfit Westrock's payout ratio is currently 312.73%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on SW shares. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $58.00 price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Argus started coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $65.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, November 29th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Smurfit Westrock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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.