SG Americas Securities LLC Has $1.14 Million Stake in Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF)

SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in shares of Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF) by 217.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 20,706 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 14,193 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in Greif were worth $1,139,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in shares of Greif by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 801,429 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $48,983,000 after acquiring an additional 17,425 shares during the period. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. bought a new position in shares of Greif during the 4th quarter worth approximately $46,279,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Greif by 8.4% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 568,725 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $34,760,000 after acquiring an additional 44,088 shares during the period. William Blair Investment Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Greif by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 535,932 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $32,756,000 after purchasing an additional 11,210 shares during the period. Finally, Systematic Financial Management LP boosted 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 acquiring an additional 7,684 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 45.74% of the company’s stock.

Greif Trading Down 2.1%

Shares of GEF opened at $63.26 on Wednesday. Greif, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $48.23 and a fifty-two week high of $73.16. The firm has a market cap of $3.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.82, a PEG ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.95. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $55.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $58.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.27.

Greif (NYSE:GEF) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 4th. The industrial products company reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.11. Greif had a return on equity of 10.21% and a net margin of 3.74%. The business had revenue of $1.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.43 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.82 EPS. Greif’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Greif, Inc. will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Greif Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 17th will be paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 17th. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.41%. Greif’s payout ratio is presently 60.85%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Greif from $75.00 to $68.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Greif from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Greif from $75.00 to $67.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $74.17.

Insider Activity at Greif

In other Greif news, CEO Ole G. Rosgaard sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.75, for a total value of $1,972,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 97,464 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,408,258. This trade represents a 23.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 7.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Greif Company Profile

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.