Metis Global Partners LLC Increases Stake in WestRock (NYSE:WRK)

Metis Global Partners LLC increased its stake in WestRock (NYSE:WRK) by 6.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,458 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after buying an additional 1,032 shares during the period. Metis Global Partners LLC’s holdings in WestRock were worth $725,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of WRK. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of WestRock in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its position in WestRock by 268.7% during the fourth quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 789 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 575 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its holdings in shares of WestRock by 59.0% during the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 862 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 320 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC grew its position in shares of WestRock by 198.5% in the 3rd quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 665 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new position in shares of WestRock in the 4th quarter worth about $55,000. 83.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at WestRock

In other news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total value of $149,695.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 92,117 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,939,844.09. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total value of $149,695.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 92,117 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,939,844.09. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider John L. O’neal sold 6,965 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.47, for a total transaction of $358,488.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 60,491 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,113,471.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 20,165 shares of company stock worth $1,007,346. Insiders own 0.49% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on WRK shares. Argus boosted their price objective on shares of WestRock from $50.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Truist Financial raised their price objective on WestRock from $42.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on WestRock from $46.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, May 3rd. Seaport Res Ptn downgraded WestRock from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $42.00 price target on shares of WestRock in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $47.60.

WestRock Stock Down 0.2 %

WestRock stock opened at $51.71 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $13.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.45, a PEG ratio of 4.77 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. WestRock has a 12 month low of $26.85 and a 12 month high of $52.13. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.17.

WestRock (NYSE:WRK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 2nd. The basic materials company reported $0.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.14. WestRock had a net margin of 1.57% and a return on equity of 5.85%. The firm had revenue of $4.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.75 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.77 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that WestRock will post 1.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WestRock Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 14th will be given a $0.3025 dividend. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 13th. WestRock’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 101.68%.

WestRock Profile

WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers.