Short Interest in Clearwater Paper Co. (NYSE:CLW) Declines By 60.6%

Clearwater Paper Co. (NYSE:CLW) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 389,800 shares, a decline of 60.6% from the December 15th total of 988,200 shares. Currently, 2.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 464,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.8 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CLW has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com downgraded Clearwater Paper from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $37.00 price objective on shares of Clearwater Paper in a report on Tuesday, November 5th.

Institutional Trading of Clearwater Paper

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its stake in Clearwater Paper by 2.6% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 44,161 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,260,000 after acquiring an additional 1,117 shares during the period. PEAK6 Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Clearwater Paper by 15.5% in the third quarter. PEAK6 Investments LLC now owns 9,127 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 1,227 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its position in Clearwater Paper by 23.4% in the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 7,900 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board boosted its stake in Clearwater Paper by 6.9% during the second quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 36,736 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,781,000 after buying an additional 2,360 shares in the last quarter. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Clearwater Paper in the 3rd quarter valued at $74,000. Institutional investors own 89.98% of the company’s stock.

Clearwater Paper Price Performance

Shares of Clearwater Paper stock opened at $29.01 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.72. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $27.68 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $480.64 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.73 and a beta of 0.32. Clearwater Paper has a 1-year low of $23.97 and a 1-year high of $57.13.

Clearwater Paper declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Monday, November 4th that allows the company to repurchase $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the basic materials company to purchase up to 23.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

About Clearwater Paper

Clearwater Paper Corporation manufactures and supplies bleached paperboards, and consumer and parent roll tissues in the United States and internationally. It operates through Pulp and Paperboard, and Consumer Products segments. The Pulp and Paperboard segment manufactures and markets bleached paperboard; Solid Bleached Sulfate paperboard that is used to produce folding cartons, liquid packaging, cups and plates, blister and carded packaging, and top sheet and commercial printing items; and hardwood and softwood pulp, as well as offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting.