Greif (NYSE:GEF) Upgraded to Hold at Wall Street Zen

Greif (NYSE:GEF) was upgraded by research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

GEF has been the subject of several other reports. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Greif from $77.00 to $71.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Greif from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Greif from $72.00 to $71.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, September 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Greif in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Greif from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Greif currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $69.50.

Greif Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE GEF opened at $65.47 on Friday. Greif has a 52-week low of $48.23 and a 52-week high of $70.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.41. The business has a fifty day moving average of $60.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $62.51. The stock has a market cap of $3.11 billion, a PE ratio of 20.78, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.95.

Insider Buying and Selling at Greif

In other news, EVP Gary R. Martz sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.48, for a total value of $302,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 28,100 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,699,488. This trade represents a 15.11% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Lawrence A. Hilsheimer sold 33,851 shares of Greif stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.58, for a total transaction of $2,016,842.58. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 66,826 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,981,493.08. This represents a 33.62% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have acquired 32,293 shares of company stock worth $2,145,733 and have sold 53,851 shares worth $3,227,003. Corporate insiders own 7.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Greif

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Greif in the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Greif by 36.2% in the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 662 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System bought a new position in Greif during the second quarter worth about $214,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Greif during the 2nd quarter worth about $216,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Greif during the 2nd quarter worth about $227,000. Institutional investors own 45.74% of the company’s stock.

About Greif

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.