DS Smith (LON:SMDS) Cut to Hold at Stifel Nicolaus

Stifel Nicolaus lowered shares of DS Smith (LON:SMDS) to a hold rating in a report issued on Wednesday, Digital Look reports. They currently have GBX 480 ($6.31) price objective on the stock, down from their prior price objective of GBX 498 ($6.55).

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 400 ($5.26) price target on shares of DS Smith in a report on Wednesday, June 12th.

DS Smith Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of LON:SMDS opened at GBX 447.20 ($5.88) on Wednesday. DS Smith has a 12 month low of GBX 260.50 ($3.43) and a 12 month high of GBX 483 ($6.35). The firm has a market cap of £6.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,597.14, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 70.02. The company’s 50-day moving average price is GBX 448.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 392.92.

DS Smith Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 4th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 5th will be issued a dividend of GBX 12 ($0.16) per share. This is a boost from DS Smith’s previous dividend of $6.00. This represents a yield of 3.41%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 5th. DS Smith’s payout ratio is currently 6,428.57%.

Insider Activity

In other DS Smith news, insider Richard Pike sold 42,959 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 358 ($4.71), for a total value of £153,793.22 ($202,226.46). In related news, insider Richard Pike sold 42,959 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 358 ($4.71), for a total value of £153,793.22 ($202,226.46). Also, insider Miles Roberts sold 96,348 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 471 ($6.19), for a total value of £453,799.08 ($596,711.48). Insiders own 4.10% of the company’s stock.

DS Smith Company Profile

DS Smith Plc provides packaging solutions, paper products, and recycling services worldwide. The company offers transit and transport, consumer, retail and shelf ready, heavy duty, fiber base pallets, automotive standard, multi-material, dangerous goods, and e-commerce packaging, as well as packaging for food and drinks, health and beauty, apparel and footwear, home and DIY, and consumer electronics.