Vontobel Holding Ltd. Increases Position in West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (NYSE:WFG)

Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. (NYSE:WFG) by 6.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 607,438 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 35,855 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. owned about 0.78% of West Fraser Timber worth $52,565,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in West Fraser Timber by 77.4% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 880 shares of the company’s stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 384 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its position in shares of West Fraser Timber by 82.9% in the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,284 shares of the company’s stock valued at $125,000 after buying an additional 582 shares in the last quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC acquired a new position in shares of West Fraser Timber during the 3rd quarter worth $223,000. Quantinno Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of West Fraser Timber in the 3rd quarter worth about $258,000. Finally, Creative Planning grew its stake in West Fraser Timber by 76.3% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 4,158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $320,000 after acquiring an additional 1,800 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.23% of the company’s stock.

West Fraser Timber Price Performance

Shares of WFG opened at $80.45 on Friday. West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. has a 1 year low of $73.91 and a 1 year high of $102.40. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $87.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $90.69.

West Fraser Timber (NYSE:WFG) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.55) by $0.63. West Fraser Timber had a positive return on equity of 0.53% and a negative net margin of 1.53%. Sell-side analysts predict that West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. will post 1.59 earnings per share for the current year.

West Fraser Timber Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.32 dividend. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. West Fraser Timber’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -100.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently commented on WFG. Raymond James lowered their price target on shares of West Fraser Timber from $115.00 to $105.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Scotiabank lowered their target price on West Fraser Timber from $120.00 to $109.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on West Fraser Timber from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, West Fraser Timber has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $109.40.

West Fraser Timber Profile

West Fraser Timber Co Ltd., a diversified wood products company, engages in manufacturing, selling, marketing, and distributing lumber, engineered wood products, pulp, newsprint, wood chips, and other residuals and renewable energy. It offers spruce-pine-fir, douglas fir-larch, hem-fir, and southern yellow pine lumber, treated wood products, medium density fiberboard panels and plywood, oriented strand board, and laminated veneer lumber wood products, as well as particleboards.