West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG) Downgraded to "Sell" Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen cut shares of West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG - Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report issued on Friday.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of West Fraser Timber from $117.00 to $99.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Raymond James Financial reduced their target price on West Fraser Timber from $105.00 to $90.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, TD Securities lowered their price objective on West Fraser Timber from $99.00 to $98.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $100.40.

West Fraser Timber Trading Down 0.8%

West Fraser Timber stock traded down $0.58 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $74.04. 254,542 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 173,398. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $74.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of $77.94. West Fraser Timber has a 1-year low of $69.48 and a 1-year high of $102.40. The stock has a market cap of $5.68 billion, a P/E ratio of -435.53 and a beta of 1.15.

West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.61 by ($0.15). West Fraser Timber had a net margin of 0.03% and a return on equity of 0.99%. The firm had revenue of $1.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.53 billion. As a group, research analysts predict that West Fraser Timber will post 4.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

West Fraser Timber Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 26th were issued a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 26th. West Fraser Timber's payout ratio is -752.94%.

Institutional Trading of West Fraser Timber

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 3,002 shares of the company's stock worth $260,000 after buying an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 3.3% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 4,637 shares of the company's stock worth $357,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Comprehensive Money Management Services LLC grew its stake in shares of West Fraser Timber by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Comprehensive Money Management Services LLC now owns 4,065 shares of the company's stock worth $313,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in West Fraser Timber by 6.9% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 2,806 shares of the company's stock valued at $216,000 after buying an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of West Fraser Timber by 22.5% during the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,078 shares of the company's stock valued at $93,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. 40.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About West Fraser Timber

West Fraser Timber Co Ltd., a diversified wood products company, engages in manufacturing, selling, marketing, and distributing lumber, engineered wood products, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, and other residuals and renewable energy. It offers spruce-pine-fir, douglas fir-larch, hem-fir, and southern yellow pine lumber, treated wood products, medium density fiberboard panels and plywood, oriented strand board, and laminated veneer lumber wood products, as well as particleboards.