Proficio Capital Partners LLC Makes New $1.40 Million Investment in Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW)

Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 25,907 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,395,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in SW. Atria Investments Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter valued at about $362,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter valued at $5,955,000. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter worth $426,000. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans bought a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter worth $957,000. Institutional investors own 83.38% of the company's stock.

Smurfit Westrock Stock Up 1.7 %

Smurfit Westrock stock traded up $0.73 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $44.94. The stock had a trading volume of 3,993,446 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,569,692. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $51.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.66. Smurfit Westrock Ltd has a 12 month low of $38.55 and a 12 month high of $56.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $23.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 81.71 and a beta of 0.99.

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Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.67 by ($0.33). Smurfit Westrock had a net margin of 0.63% and a return on equity of 6.16%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Smurfit Westrock Ltd will post 3.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were paid a $0.4308 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.83%. This is a positive change from Smurfit Westrock's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. Smurfit Westrock's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 312.73%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have commented on SW shares. Argus started coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $65.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, November 29th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $66.00 to $64.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Two 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.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $60.70.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Alvaro Henao sold 4,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.90, for a total value of $215,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 44,361 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,391,057.90. This trade represents a 8.27 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Ken Bowles sold 24,225 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.06, for a total value of $1,333,828.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 111,458 shares of the company's stock, valued at $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. Corporate insiders own 0.49% of the company's stock.

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.