Marshall Wace LLP Makes New $1.03 Million Investment in Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF)

Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 16,778 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,025,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Avior Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Greif during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its position in shares of Greif by 28.2% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,444 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $149,000 after purchasing an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Greif by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,966 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its position in Greif by 26.6% in the fourth quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 5,133 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $314,000 after purchasing an additional 1,077 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its stake in Greif by 31.9% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 5,452 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 1,320 shares during the last quarter. 45.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Mark A. Emkes acquired 3,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $55.89 per share, with a total value of $167,670.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 44,257 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,473,523.73. The trade was a 7.27 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP David C. Lloyd sold 2,263 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total value of $125,008.12. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 7,580 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $418,719.20. The trade was a 22.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 7.60% of the company's stock.

Greif Stock Performance

Greif stock traded down $0.11 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $53.59. The company had a trading volume of 7,683 shares, compared to its average volume of 160,988. Greif, Inc. has a one year low of $48.23 and a one year high of $73.16. The firm has a market cap of $2.54 billion, a PE ratio of 11.86, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.94. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $53.90 and a 200 day moving average of $60.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 1.13.

Greif (NYSE:GEF - Get Free Report) last posted 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 firm had revenue of $1.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. Greif had a return on equity of 11.84% and a net margin of 4.81%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Greif, Inc. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Greif Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th were issued a $0.54 dividend. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 17th. Greif's dividend payout ratio is currently 61.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GEF has been the subject of several analyst reports. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Greif from $75.00 to $68.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Greif from $76.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Bank of America cut their price objective on Greif from $79.00 to $73.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Greif from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Greif has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $75.50.

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.