WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Shares Down 40.5% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• WH Smith PLC saw its stock price plunge by 40.5% in a single trading session, reaching a low of GBX 628 ($8.43) before closing at GBX 660.33 ($8.86).
• Despite the sharp decline, analysts maintain a mixed outlook with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of GBX 1,430.
• The company, which operates retail segments in Travel and High Street, has experienced a significant increase in trading volume, exceeding average levels by 1,624%.

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 40.5% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 628 ($8.43) and last traded at GBX 660.33 ($8.86). 8,394,045 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 1,624% from the average session volume of 487,005 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,110 ($14.89).

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on SMWH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. 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 report on Monday, June 9th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of GBX 1,430.

WH Smith Price Performance

The firm's fifty day simple moving average is GBX 1,065.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 1,055.22. The firm has a market capitalization of £838.18 million, a PE ratio of 13.43, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 253.13.

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.

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