Canaccord Genuity Group Has Lowered Expectations for WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Stock Price

Key Points

• Canaccord Genuity Group cut WH Smith’s price target from GBX 555 to GBX 535 but maintained a “buy” rating, implying 45.78% potential upside from the GBX 367 share price.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed: three analysts rate the stock a buy and four rate it a hold, producing a consensus “hold” rating and average price target of GBX 566.43.
• WH Smith shares remain near their 52-week low, while insiders recently bought shares; however, the company reports high leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 846.40.

WH Smith (LON:SMWH - Get Free Report) had its price objective reduced by equities research analysts at Canaccord Genuity Group from GBX 555 to GBX 535 in a report released on Wednesday, Digital Look reports. The firm presently has a "buy" rating on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group's price target suggests a potential upside of 45.78% from the company's current price.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of WH Smith from GBX 575 to GBX 550 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of WH Smith from GBX 550 to GBX 390 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 11th. Berenberg Bank boosted their price objective on shares of WH Smith from GBX 420 to GBX 440 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a GBX 600 target price on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Friday, June 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of GBX 566.43.

WH Smith Stock Performance

Shares of WH Smith stock opened at GBX 367 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 846.40. The stock's fifty day moving average is GBX 411.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 481.10. WH Smith has a 52 week low of GBX 345.60 and a 52 week high of GBX 712. The company has a market capitalization of £552.34 million, a PE ratio of -3.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.93.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Simon Emeny acquired 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 26th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 398 per share, for a total transaction of £19,900. Also, insider Helen Rose acquired 11,102 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 450 per share, with a total value of £49,959. 1.05% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About WH Smith

WH Smith PLC operates as a retailer in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates in two segments, Travel and High Street. The Travel segment offers news, books, and convenience for travelling customers. It operates stores in airports, hospitals, railway stations, and motorway service areas. The High Street segment sells stationery products, including greeting cards, general stationery, art and craft, and gifting products; news and impulse products, such as newspapers, magazines, confectionery, and drinks; and books.

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