Greif (NYSE:GEF) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.50 EPS

Greif (NYSE:GEF) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The industrial products company reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.50, Zacks reports. The firm had revenue of $1.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Greif had a net margin of 7.53% and a return on equity of 8.32%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.86 earnings per share.

Greif Stock Down 0.1%

Greif stock traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $87.10. The stock had a trading volume of 137,614 shares, compared to its average volume of 224,124. Greif has a fifty-two week low of $55.75 and a fifty-two week high of $88.50. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $70.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a PE ratio of 33.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.76.

Greif Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 17th were paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. This is an increase from Greif’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 17th. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. Greif’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 95.02%.

Greif News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Greif this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong fiscal third-quarter results: Greif reported adjusted earnings of $1.61 per share, well above the $1.11 analyst consensus, while revenue of $1.17 billion exceeded the $1.12 billion estimate. Earnings also rose from $0.86 per share a year earlier, and revenue increased 3.5% year over year. Greif Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Profitability benefited from pricing and cost controls: Stronger pricing, cost optimization and lower interest expense helped drive the earnings outperformance. Management kept its existing guidance intact, reducing concerns about near-term execution. Greif Earnings Beat Estimates in Q3 on Pricing and Cost Optimization
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target: The firm increased its target for Greif from $74 to $90, implying modest additional upside from recent levels. The new target provides support for the stock’s strong recent performance, although Wells Fargo retained an “equal weight” rating. Benzinga
• Neutral Sentiment: Greif reached a new 52-week high following the better-than-expected results, indicating strong investor momentum but also leaving the stock trading near its recent peak. Greif Sets New 52-Week High on Better-Than-Expected Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Some longer-term earnings estimates were trimmed: Zacks Research reduced its EPS forecasts for fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028, as well as several future quarters, while maintaining a “Hold” rating. The cuts were modest but may limit enthusiasm about longer-term earnings growth.

Insider Buying and Selling at Greif

In other Greif news, SVP Timothy Bergwall sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $73.14, for a total value of $146,280.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 63,832 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,668,672.48. This trade represents a 3.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders have sold 6,000 shares of company stock valued at $412,120 over the last 90 days. 7.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Greif

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GEF. Simplex Trading LLC boosted its position in shares of Greif by 399.5% during the fourth quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 1,853 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $125,000 after buying an additional 1,482 shares during the last quarter. Man Group plc purchased a new stake in Greif in the 4th quarter valued at $201,000. Odyssean LLC bought a new position in Greif during the 4th quarter valued at $209,000. Mariner LLC bought a new position in Greif during the 4th quarter valued at $220,000. Finally, State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System purchased a new position in Greif during the 4th quarter worth $221,000. 45.74% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings raised Greif from a “hold (c-)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 17th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Greif from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Greif from $79.00 to $78.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Zacks Research raised Greif from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Greif from $74.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $78.25.

About Greif

Greif, Inc is a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, with a history dating back to its founding in 1877. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company has evolved from a regional barrel and drum manufacturer into a diversified packaging provider serving a wide range of end markets. Greif’s longstanding heritage in container solutions has positioned it as a trusted partner for customers seeking reliable, high-quality packaging options.

The company’s core business revolves around the design, manufacture and sale of industrial packaging products, including steel, plastic and fiber drums; intermediate bulk containers (IBCs); safety closures; rigid, flexible and reconditioned packaging; containerboard and protective packaging.