Walnut Level Capital LLC Purchases Shares of 65,000 Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW)

Walnut Level Capital LLC purchased 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 (SEC). The firm purchased 65,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,501,000. Smurfit Westrock accounts for approximately 1.3% of Walnut Level Capital LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State Street Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the 3rd quarter valued at about $967,582,000. Geode Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter worth approximately $627,244,000. FMR LLC acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter valued at approximately $431,653,000. Soros Fund Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter valued at approximately $340,848,000. Finally, Boston Partners bought a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $304,377,000. 83.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Smurfit Westrock

In other news, insider Alvaro Henao sold 4,000 shares of the 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 44,361 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,391,057.90. This represents a 8.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing 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 transaction, the insider now owns 111,458 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,136,877.48. This trade 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.

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Smurfit Westrock Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SW traded down $0.89 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $44.51. The company had a trading volume of 4,134,893 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,790,595. The company's 50-day moving average price is $50.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.59. Smurfit Westrock Ltd has a one year low of $38.55 and a one year high of $56.99. The firm has a market cap of $23.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 80.93 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (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 research analysts anticipate that Smurfit Westrock Ltd will post 3.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.4308 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Smurfit Westrock's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Smurfit Westrock's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 312.73%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $66.00 to $64.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target 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. Argus initiated coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a report on Thursday, December 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $62.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial started coverage on Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They set a "buy" rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $60.70.

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.