How are energy investors positioned?
In a recent transaction, Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco Products Co (NYSE:SON), purchased 20,000 shares of the company’s common stock. The shares were acquired at a price of $46.10 each, amounting to a total investment of $922,000. The purchase comes as the stock trades near its 52-week low of $44.35, with InvestingPro analysis indicating the stock is currently fairly valued. Following this purchase, Coker holds a total of 482,365 shares directly. Additionally, there is an indirect holding of 17,873 shares by his spouse. This transaction highlights Coker’s continued confidence in Sonoco Products, a leading manufacturer in the paperboard containers and boxes industry with a market capitalization of $4.5 billion. The company has maintained dividend payments for 55 consecutive years and raised them for 42 straight years, demonstrating strong financial stability. InvestingPro subscribers can access 10+ additional insights about Sonoco’s insider trading patterns and financial health metrics.
In other recent news, Sonoco Products reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.36 billion, falling short of the $1.59 billion consensus estimate. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.17, slightly below the $1.19 analysts had projected. For 2025, Sonoco forecasts adjusted earnings per share between $6.00 and $6.25, which is below the Wall Street consensus of $6.40. The company expects cash flow from operations to range from $750 million to $850 million and adjusted EBITDA between $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion for the year. Sonoco completed its acquisition of Eviosys, a European food can manufacturer, in December and anticipates a 20% growth in adjusted net income in 2025 compared to 2024.
Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James analyst Matt Roberts recently adjusted Sonoco’s stock price target to $54.00 from $58.00 while maintaining an Outperform rating. The analyst noted a challenging quarter due to mergers and acquisitions but highlighted a potentially simpler portfolio for Sonoco moving forward. Despite some setbacks, Raymond James increased their 2025 EBITDA and EPS estimates for Sonoco to $1,374 million and $6.06, respectively, with expectations of margin expansion. The firm’s 2026 EPS estimate for Sonoco is $6.25, factoring in stronger Consumer volume growth and the realization of Eviosys synergies.
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