WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Reaches New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• WH Smith shares hit a new 52-week low, trading as low as GBX 378.20 and closing around GBX 379, down from the previous close of GBX 384.82.
• Analysts have recently cut their price targets, but the consensus remains “Hold” with an average target of GBX 570; ratings include three Buys and four Holds.
• Company insiders purchased approximately 436,832 shares in the past 90 days, while WH Smith continues to face high leverage, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 846.40 and a current ratio of 0.33.

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 378.20 and last traded at GBX 379, with a volume of 253593 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 384.82.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SMWH has been the topic of several research analyst reports. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a GBX 600 price objective on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Friday, June 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price 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 reduced their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 574 to GBX 420 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 700 to GBX 575 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 680 to GBX 555 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of GBX 570.

WH Smith Trading Down 1.5%

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 417.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 498.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 846.40, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market cap of £570.39 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -3.92, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.93.

Insider Activity at WH Smith

In other WH Smith news, insider Max Izzard acquired 36,585 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 410 per share, for a total transaction of £149,998.50. Also, insider Leo Quinn acquired 365,853 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 410 per share, with a total value of £1,499,997.30. In the last 90 days, insiders purchased 436,832 shares of company stock valued at $179,485,200. Corporate insiders own 1.05% of the company's stock.

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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