WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Stock Crosses Below 200-Day Moving Average – Here’s Why

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 1,276.59 ($15.98) and traded as low as GBX 1,169 ($14.63). WH Smith shares last traded at GBX 1,178 ($14.74), with a volume of 92,935 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on SMWH. Berenberg Bank reissued a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 1,600 ($20.02) price target on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on shares of WH Smith from GBX 1,469 ($18.38) to GBX 1,460 ($18.27) and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a GBX 1,310 ($16.39) price target on shares of WH Smith in a research note on Thursday, September 12th.

WH Smith Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of £1.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,426.53, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.67. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is GBX 1,263.69 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 1,276.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 326.20, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.64.

WH Smith Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 16th will be paid a GBX 22.60 ($0.28) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 16th. This represents a yield of 1.74%. This is a positive change from WH Smith’s previous dividend of $11.00. WH Smith’s dividend payout ratio is 6,530.61%.

Insider Transactions at WH Smith

In other WH Smith news, insider Robert Moorhead sold 10,194 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,266 ($15.84), for a total value of £129,056.04 ($161,501.74). Also, insider Situl Jobanputra acquired 1,250 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 18th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 1,255 ($15.71) per share, for a total transaction of £15,687.50 ($19,631.46). 1.21% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.