Smurfit Westrock Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NYSE:SW)

Smurfit Westrock PLC (NYSE:SW) was the target of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Investors bought 7,065 call options on the company. This is an increase of 522% compared to the typical daily volume of 1,136 call options.

Smurfit Westrock Trading Up 1.7%

NYSE:SW traded up $0.67 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $39.62. 3,092,143 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,770,757. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.07 and a beta of 0.96. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $40.34 and its 200-day moving average is $40.92. Smurfit Westrock has a 12-month low of $32.73 and a 12-month high of $52.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73.

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $7.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.57 billion. Smurfit Westrock had a return on equity of 4.96% and a net margin of 1.22%.Smurfit Westrock’s revenue was up .7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.74 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Smurfit Westrock will post 2.32 EPS for the current year.

Smurfit Westrock Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 15th were issued a $0.4523 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 15th. This represents a $1.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.6%. Smurfit Westrock’s payout ratio is currently 250.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $57.00 price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Truist Financial set a $50.00 price objective on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a research report on Friday, May 1st. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $56.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $64.00 to $62.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 1st. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Smurfit Westrock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $53.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Smurfit Westrock

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. DV Equities LLC acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC purchased a new stake in Smurfit Westrock during the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC grew its stake in Smurfit Westrock by 187.6% during the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 768 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC acquired a new stake in Smurfit Westrock in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 83.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Smurfit Westrock Company 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.