WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Trading Down 36.8% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• WH Smith's share price fell significantly by 36.8%, trading as low as GBX 691.50 on Thursday, with a dramatic increase in trading volume.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co. maintains an "overweight" rating for WH Smith, while Canaccord Genuity reduced their price target from GBX 1,460 to GBX 1,350, indicating a buy rating.
• The company holds a market capitalization of £855.72 million and has a current ratio of 0.85, reflecting challenges in meeting short-term liabilities.

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH - Get Free Report)'s share price traded down 36.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 691.50 ($9.30) and last traded at GBX 701.46 ($9.44). 8,430,871 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 1,630% from the average session volume of 487,233 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,110 ($14.94).

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an "overweight" rating on shares of WH Smith in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on WH Smith from GBX 1,460 to GBX 1,350 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, June 9th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, WH Smith presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of GBX 1,430.

WH Smith Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 1,074.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 1,059.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 253.13, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.85. The company has a market capitalization of £855.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.67.

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.

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