IFM Investors Pty Ltd Sells 3,054 Shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK)

IFM Investors Pty Ltd lowered its stake in WestRock (NYSE:WRK) by 5.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 56,155 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 3,054 shares during the quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd’s holdings in WestRock were worth $2,777,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of WestRock during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in WestRock by 268.7% in the 4th 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 in the last quarter. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in WestRock during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its holdings in WestRock by 198.5% in the third quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 665 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in WestRock by 59.0% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 862 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 320 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.38% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at WestRock

In related news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total transaction of $149,695.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 92,117 shares in the company, valued at $3,939,844.09. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.49% of the company’s stock.

WestRock Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of WRK traded up $0.44 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $47.25. 1,823,495 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,868,743. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The company has a market cap of $12.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.03, a PEG ratio of 4.37 and a beta of 1.10. WestRock has a 52 week low of $26.85 and a 52 week high of $49.67. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $47.18 and a 200 day simple moving average of $42.30.

WestRock (NYSE:WRK) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.15). The business had revenue of $4.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.79 billion. WestRock had a positive return on equity of 6.87% and a negative net margin of 8.58%. WestRock’s quarterly revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.55 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that WestRock will post 1.93 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WRK has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “equal weight” rating and issued a $45.00 target price (up from $42.00) on shares of WestRock in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $42.00 target price on shares of WestRock in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of WestRock from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on WestRock in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Five 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 $43.00.

WestRock Company 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.