Analysts Set Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF) Target Price at $75.50

Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF - Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the seven analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $75.50.

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Greif from $75.00 to $68.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 28th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on Greif from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Greif from $76.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 3rd.

Greif Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE GEF traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $56.73. The company had a trading volume of 73,564 shares, compared to its average volume of 170,756. The company has a market capitalization of $2.69 billion, a PE ratio of 12.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.94. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $59.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. Greif has a one year low of $48.23 and a one year high of $73.16.

Greif (NYSE:GEF - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The industrial products company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.72 by ($0.33). The company had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. Greif had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 11.84%. On average, equities analysts expect that Greif will post 4.11 EPS for the current year.

Greif Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th were issued a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 17th. Greif's dividend payout ratio is presently 61.71%.

Insider Transactions at Greif

In other Greif news, Director Mark A. Emkes purchased 3,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 6th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $55.89 per share, for a total transaction of $167,670.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 44,257 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,473,523.73. This represents a 7.27% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Frank Calhoun V. Miller purchased 1,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $58.50 per share, with a total value of $58,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $58,500. This represents a ∞ increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 7.60% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greif

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Greif by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,966 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $242,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Greif by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,541 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $342,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. raised its holdings in Greif by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 7,459 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $410,000 after acquiring an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Greif by 104.9% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 838 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 429 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its holdings in Greif by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,013 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $368,000 after acquiring an additional 433 shares in the last quarter. 45.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Greif Company Profile

Greif, Inc engages in the production and sale of industrial packaging products and services worldwide. The company operates through Global Industrial Packaging; Paper Packaging & Services; and Land Management segments. The Global Industrial Packaging segment produces and sells industrial packaging products, including steel, fiber, and plastic drums; rigid and flexible intermediate bulk containers; closure systems for industrial packaging products; transit protection products; water bottles, and remanufactured and reconditioned industrial containers; and various services, such as container life cycle management, filling, logistics, warehousing, and other packaging services to chemicals, paints and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, mineral product, and other industries.