Canaccord Genuity Group Has Lowered Expectations for WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Stock Price

WH Smith (LON:SMWH) had its price target dropped by Canaccord Genuity Group from GBX 762 to GBX 680 in a research note issued on Friday,Digital Look reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group’s target price indicates a potential upside of 20.25% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on SMWH. Berenberg Bank cut their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 700 to GBX 667 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 675 to GBX 650 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of GBX 720.50.

WH Smith Stock Down 1.0%

SMWH stock opened at GBX 565.50 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 604.51 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 640.13. The company has a market cap of £705.15 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.99, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.57. WH Smith has a 12-month low of GBX 519 and a 12-month high of GBX 1,132. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 846.40.

WH Smith (LON:SMWH) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The company reported GBX (20) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of £748 million for the quarter. WH Smith had a negative return on equity of 90.46% and a negative net margin of 9.48%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that WH Smith will post 100.9372747 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at WH Smith

In other news, insider Max Izzard purchased 25,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 29th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 675 per share, with a total value of £168,750. 1.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Trending Headlines about WH Smith

Here are the key news stories impacting WH Smith this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Canaccord cut its price target from GBX 762 to GBX 680 but retained a “buy” rating, signalling at least one broker sees medium-term upside despite the near-term weakness. Digital Look
• Neutral Sentiment: Board changes announced (non‑executive director Colette Burke to step down; new remuneration committee chair named) — governance update that is unlikely to move valuation materially on its own. TipRanks
• Negative Sentiment: Management cut profit guidance and suspended the dividend, citing a sharp hit to air‑travel sales after the Iran war disrupted passenger volumes — an immediate negative for WH Smith’s travel retail segment and near‑term cash returns. LSE News
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly results showed a GBX (20) EPS with revenue of £748m but negative net margin and a sharply negative return on equity; the profit plunge prompted market sell‑off commentary and a ~10% intraday fall in earlier sessions. Yahoo / Market News
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst and press coverage highlight rising debt and the decision to scrap the dividend as evidence of balance‑sheet pressure — WH Smith’s reported high debt metrics amplify investor concern about financial flexibility. Investors Chronicle
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple outlets (Reuters, Investing) covered the dividend suspension and profit warning, reinforcing negative market sentiment and higher trading volumes as investors repriced travel‑retail risk. Reuters

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. The High Street segment sells stationery products, including greeting cards, general stationery, art and craft, and gifting products; news and impulse products, such as newspapers, magazines, confectionery, and drinks; and books.