Polaris Capital Management LLC Takes $162.70 Million Position in Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW)

Polaris Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock Ltd (NYSE:SW) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 3,020,764 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $162,698,000. Smurfit Westrock accounts for 7.8% of Polaris Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its largest position. Polaris Capital Management LLC owned 0.58% of Smurfit Westrock as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Alpha Omega Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Smurfit Westrock during the 4th quarter worth $5,252,000. Private Management Group Inc. purchased a new position in Smurfit Westrock in the 3rd quarter worth $9,405,000. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Smurfit Westrock in the third quarter valued at about $597,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Smurfit Westrock during the third quarter worth about $520,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in Smurfit Westrock in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $77,207,000. 83.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Smurfit Westrock Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE SW opened at $53.50 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Smurfit Westrock Ltd has a 12-month low of $38.55 and a 12-month high of $56.99. The company has a market capitalization of $27.84 billion, a PE ratio of 297.22 and a beta of 1.02. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $53.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $49.47.

Smurfit Westrock Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 18th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.4308 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. This is a positive change from Smurfit Westrock’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Smurfit Westrock’s payout ratio is 672.26%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SW has been the subject of several recent research reports. Barclays lifted their price target on Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Citigroup upped their price target on Smurfit Westrock from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Smurfit Westrock from $65.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 29th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Smurfit Westrock from $60.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Argus started coverage on shares of Smurfit Westrock in a report on Thursday, December 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Smurfit Westrock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $60.70.

Insider Activity at Smurfit Westrock

In related news, insider Saverio Mayer sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.84, for a total transaction of $1,371,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 149,911 shares in the company, valued at $8,221,119.24. This trade represents a 14.29 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.49% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Smurfit Westrock Company Profile

Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in Ireland and internationally. The company produces containerboard that it converts into corrugated containers or sells to third parties, as well as produces other types of paper, such as consumer packaging board, sack paper, graphic paper, solid board and graphic board, and other paper-based packaging products, such as consumer packaging, solid board packaging, paper sacks, and other packaging products, including bag-in-box.