WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Cut to Hold at Berenberg Bank

Key Points

• Berenberg Bank has downgraded WH Smith to a "hold" rating and significantly reduced its price objective from GBX 1,600 to GBX 700.
• Other analysts including Peel Hunt and Deutsche Bank have also rated WH Smith as "hold," with price targets ranging from GBX 726 to GBX 755.
• The stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" among analysts, with a consensus price target of GBX 998.20.

Berenberg Bank downgraded shares of WH Smith (LON:SMWH - Free Report) to a hold rating in a research note released on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Berenberg Bank currently has GBX 700 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of GBX 1,600.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on SMWH. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on WH Smith from GBX 1,030 to GBX 726 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their price objective on WH Smith from GBX 1,460 to GBX 1,350 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, June 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "overweight" rating on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Peel Hunt cut WH Smith to a "hold" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from GBX 1,400 to GBX 755 in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of GBX 998.20.

WH Smith Stock Up 2.2%

WH Smith stock traded up GBX 15 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching GBX 692.50. The company's stock had a trading volume of 382,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 871,515. WH Smith has a 52-week low of GBX 628 and a 52-week high of GBX 1,499. The stock has a market capitalization of £862.58 million, a P/E ratio of 15,388.89, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 253.13, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is GBX 917.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 986.21.

WH Smith Company Profile

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.