WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Trading Down 40.5% on Analyst Downgrade

Key Points

• WH Smith's stock price experienced a dramatic fall of 40.5%, closing at GBX 660.33 ($8.86) after trading as low as GBX 628 ($8.43).
• The trading volume surged to 8,394,045 shares, marking an increase of 1,624% compared to its average session volume.
• Despite the recent downturn, WH Smith retains a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating among analysts, with four analysts recommending a Buy.

Shares of WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH - Get Free Report) fell 40.5% on Friday after Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on the stock from GBX 1,030 to GBX 726. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has a hold rating on the stock. WH Smith traded as low as GBX 628 ($8.48) and last traded at GBX 660.33 ($8.91). 8,394,045 shares changed 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 ($14.98).

SMWH has been the topic of a number of other reports. Peel Hunt downgraded WH Smith to a "hold" rating and dropped their price target for the stock from GBX 1,400 to GBX 755 in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price target on WH Smith from GBX 1,460 to GBX 1,350 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of GBX 1,178.20.

WH Smith Trading Down 1.6%

The company has a market capitalization of £887.10 million, a P/E ratio of 14.21, a price-to-earnings-growth 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 firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 1,034.73 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 1,039.40.

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.