Entropy Technologies LP Has $376,000 Stock Position in Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF)

Entropy Technologies LP cut its holdings in Greif, Inc. (NYSE:GEF) by 20.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,994 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 1,500 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings in Greif were worth $376,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its position in Greif by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 31,183 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $1,954,000 after buying an additional 943 shares in the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Greif by 3.2% in the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,195 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $326,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in Greif by 66.1% during the third quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 4,250 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 1,692 shares in the last quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Greif by 25.1% in the third quarter. Smith Group Asset Management LLC now owns 6,536 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $410,000 after purchasing an additional 1,310 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its position in shares of Greif by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 3,068 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $192,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 45.74% of the company’s stock.

Greif Stock Performance

Shares of Greif stock opened at $67.80 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $63.27 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $62.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.74 and a beta of 0.91. Greif, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $55.95 and a fifty-two week high of $71.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.70 and a quick ratio of 1.28.

Greif (NYSE:GEF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 28th. The industrial products company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.17 by ($0.14). Greif had a net margin of 4.99% and a return on equity of 13.28%. The firm had revenue of $1.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.43 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Greif, Inc. will post 4.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Greif Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th were paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 16th. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.19%. This is an increase from Greif’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. Greif’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.96%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on GEF shares. Raymond James assumed coverage on shares of Greif in a research note on Friday, July 19th. They issued a “market perform” rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Greif from $80.00 to $76.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 26th. Truist Financial reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $67.00 price target (down previously from $69.00) on shares of Greif in a report on Friday, August 30th. Stifel Nicolaus restated a “buy” rating and set a $88.00 price objective on shares of Greif in a research report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their price target on Greif from $77.00 to $73.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $76.00.

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.