Short Interest in Clearwater Paper Co. (NYSE:CLW) Increases By 9.9%

Clearwater Paper Co. (NYSE:CLW - Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 403,900 shares, an increase of 9.9% from the January 15th total of 367,600 shares. Approximately 2.5% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 375,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days.

Institutional Trading of Clearwater Paper

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Barclays PLC raised its stake in Clearwater Paper by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 27,920 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $830,000 after purchasing an additional 781 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. raised its position in shares of Clearwater Paper by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 8,700 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $259,000 after buying an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in shares of Clearwater Paper by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 45,038 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,341,000 after buying an additional 877 shares in the last quarter. Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Clearwater Paper by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,200 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $274,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PEAK6 Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Clearwater Paper by 15.5% in the 3rd quarter. PEAK6 Investments LLC now owns 9,127 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 1,227 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.98% of the company's stock.

Remove Ads

Clearwater Paper Stock Performance

Clearwater Paper stock traded up $0.91 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $28.86. The company's stock had a trading volume of 311,436 shares, compared to its average volume of 316,440. Clearwater Paper has a 1-year low of $23.97 and a 1-year high of $57.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $29.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $29.36. The company has a market cap of $478.19 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.35.

Clearwater Paper (NYSE:CLW - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The basic materials company reported ($1.17) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.33) by ($0.84). Clearwater Paper had a negative return on equity of 1.87% and a net margin of 10.54%.

Clearwater Paper announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Monday, November 4th that allows the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the basic materials company to buy up to 23.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CLW has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Clearwater Paper from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $37.00 target price on shares of Clearwater Paper in a research note on Tuesday.

Clearwater Paper Company Profile

Clearwater Paper Corporation manufactures and supplies bleached paperboards, and consumer and parent roll tissues in the United States and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paperboard, and Consumer Products segments. The Pulp and Paperboard segment manufactures and markets bleached paperboard; Solid Bleached Sulfate paperboard that is used to produce folding cartons, liquid packaging, cups and plates, blister and carded packaging, and top sheet and commercial printing items; and hardwood and softwood pulp, as well as offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting.