WH Smith (LON:SMWH) Stock Price Down 38.9% Following Analyst Downgrade

WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH)’s stock price traded down 38.9% during trading on Thursday after Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on the stock from GBX 1,030 to GBX 726. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has a hold rating on the stock. WH Smith traded as low as GBX 676 ($9.14) and last traded at GBX 678.50 ($9.17). 9,162,330 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 1,763% from the average session volume of 491,748 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,110 ($15.01).

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on SMWH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of WH Smith in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price target on shares of WH Smith from GBX 1,460 to GBX 1,350 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Finally, Peel Hunt lowered shares of WH Smith to a “hold” rating and dropped their price target for the company from GBX 1,400 to GBX 755 in a research report on Thursday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of GBX 1,178.20.

WH Smith Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 253.13, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is GBX 1,058.41 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 1,051.30. The firm has a market cap of £915.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.67.

WH Smith Company Profile

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.