WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH) Receives Consensus Rating of "Hold" from Brokerages

Key Points

• WH Smith has a consensus “Hold” rating among seven analysts: four recommend holding the stock and three recommend buying it. The average 12-month price target is GBX 570.
• Several brokerages recently lowered their price targets, including JPMorgan to GBX 575, Deutsche Bank to GBX 390, Canaccord Genuity to GBX 555, and Berenberg to GBX 420; UBS maintained a neutral rating with a GBX 600 target.
• Insiders purchased 425,730 shares in the latest quarter, while the stock opened at GBX 452.40 and remains well below its one-year high of GBX 1,120.

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of "Hold" from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 570.

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on SMWH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on WH Smith from GBX 700 to GBX 575 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 17th. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a GBX 600 price target on shares of WH Smith in a report on Friday, June 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 550 to GBX 390 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 11th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 680 to GBX 555 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Finally, Berenberg Bank cut their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 574 to GBX 420 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 16th.

Insider Activity at WH Smith

In other news, insider Helen Rose bought 12,195 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 410 per share, for a total transaction of £49,999.50. Also, insider Situl Jobanputra bought 3,658 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 10th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 410 per share, for a total transaction of £14,997.80. Insiders bought a total of 425,730 shares of company stock valued at $174,489,300 in the last quarter. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

WH Smith Price Performance

Shares of WH Smith stock opened at GBX 452.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 846.40, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.42. WH Smith has a one year low of GBX 378.60 and a one year high of GBX 1,120. The business's 50 day simple moving average is GBX 428.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 536.63. The stock has a market capitalization of £680.86 million, a P/E ratio of -4.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.92.

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. The High Street segment sells stationery products, including greeting cards, general stationery, art and craft, and gifting products; news and impulse products, such as newspapers, magazines, confectionery, and drinks; and books.

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