Insider Selling: Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF) VP Sells 2,263 Shares of Stock

Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF - Get Free Report) VP David C. Lloyd sold 2,263 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total value of $125,008.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 7,580 shares in the company, valued at approximately $418,719.20. The trade was a 22.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link.

Greif Stock Down 3.7 %

NYSE:GEF traded down $2.15 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $55.41. 209,408 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 169,381. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.61 billion, a PE ratio of 12.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.91. Greif, Inc. has a 12-month low of $53.43 and a 12-month high of $73.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.53. The business has a 50-day moving average of $60.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.91.

Greif (NYSE:GEF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The industrial products company reported $0.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.72 by ($0.33). The company had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.26 billion. Greif had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 11.84%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Greif, Inc. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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Greif Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. Greif's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on GEF shares. Sidoti began coverage on Greif in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $93.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Greif from $76.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Greif from $79.00 to $73.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Greif from $75.00 to $68.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Truist Financial reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $65.00 target price (down previously from $71.00) on shares of Greif in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $77.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GEF. Avior Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Greif during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Greif during the 4th quarter valued at $53,000. Quest Partners LLC raised its position in Greif by 35.0% in the third quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 2,257 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $141,000 after purchasing an additional 585 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Greif by 28.2% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,444 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $149,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue boosted its position in shares of Greif by 7.0% in the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 3,068 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $192,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. 45.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Greif Company Profile

Greif, Inc engages in the production and sale of industrial packaging products and services worldwide. The company operates through Global Industrial Packaging; Paper Packaging & Services; and Land Management segments. The Global Industrial Packaging segment produces and sells industrial packaging products, including steel, fiber, and plastic drums; rigid and flexible intermediate bulk containers; closure systems for industrial packaging products; transit protection products; water bottles, and remanufactured and reconditioned industrial containers; and various services, such as container life cycle management, filling, logistics, warehousing, and other packaging services to chemicals, paints and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, mineral product, and other industries.