Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the seven analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $77.00.

GEF has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Greif from $76.00 to $75.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Greif from $75.00 to $68.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Truist Financial reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $65.00 price target (down previously from $71.00) on shares of Greif in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Sidoti assumed coverage on Greif in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $93.00 price target for the company. Finally, Bank of America cut their price target on Greif from $79.00 to $73.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 6th.

Insider Transactions at Greif

In other news, VP David C. Lloyd sold 2,263 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.24, for a total value of $125,008.12. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 7,580 shares in the company, valued at $418,719.20. The trade was a 22.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director B Andrew Rose bought 3,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 20th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $70.20 per share, for a total transaction of $245,700.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $245,700. The trade was a ? increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired 9,225 shares of company stock worth $599,401 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 7.60% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greif

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in Greif by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 801,429 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $48,983,000 after purchasing an additional 17,425 shares during the last quarter. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. purchased a new position in Greif in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $46,279,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Greif by 8.4% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 568,725 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $34,760,000 after purchasing an additional 44,088 shares during the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Greif by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 535,932 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $32,756,000 after purchasing an additional 11,210 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Systematic Financial Management LP lifted its stake in Greif by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 310,236 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $18,962,000 after purchasing an additional 7,684 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 45.74% of the company’s stock.

Greif Stock Performance

GEF stock opened at $57.58 on Friday. Greif has a 1-year low of $53.43 and a 1-year high of $73.16. The firm has a market cap of $2.72 billion, a PE ratio of 12.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.91. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $60.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $62.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26.

Greif (NYSE:GEF) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The industrial products company reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.72 by ($0.33). Greif had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 11.84%. The firm had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.26 billion. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Greif will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Greif Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.75%. Greif’s payout ratio is presently 61.71%.

About Greif

Greif, Inc engages in the production and sale of industrial packaging products and services worldwide. The company operates through Global Industrial Packaging; Paper Packaging & Services; and Land Management segments. The Global Industrial Packaging segment produces and sells industrial packaging products, including steel, fiber, and plastic drums; rigid and flexible intermediate bulk containers; closure systems for industrial packaging products; transit protection products; water bottles, and remanufactured and reconditioned industrial containers; and various services, such as container life cycle management, filling, logistics, warehousing, and other packaging services to chemicals, paints and pigments, food and beverage, petroleum, industrial coatings, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, mineral product, and other industries.