Westrock coffee COO William Ford buys $96,750 in stock

Published 18/03/2025, 22:28
Westrock coffee COO William Ford buys $96,750 in stock

William A. Ford, Chief Operating Officer of Westrock (NYSE:WRK) Coffee Co (NASDAQ:WEST), recently acquired 15,000 shares of the company’s common stock. The shares were purchased at a weighted average price of $6.45, amounting to a total of $96,750. This transaction took place on March 14, 2025, with the stock currently trading at $6.55, near its 52-week low of $5.28. According to InvestingPro data, analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating with price targets ranging from $9 to $13.

Additionally, Ford had shares withheld on March 15 and March 17 to satisfy tax obligations related to the vesting of restricted stock units. In these transactions, 10,812 shares were withheld at $6.88 per share, and 13,503 shares were withheld at $6.97 per share, totaling $168,502. The company, with a market capitalization of $657 million, is expected to return to profitability this year despite current challenges.

Following these transactions, Ford holds 451,875 shares directly. Furthermore, shares are held indirectly through immediate family members and a family trust, but Ford disclaims beneficial ownership of these indirectly held shares. Discover more insights about WEST and 1,400+ other stocks with comprehensive Pro Research Reports, available exclusively on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Westrock Coffee Company reported its fourth-quarter earnings, revealing a revenue of $228.98 million, which fell short of the anticipated $252.52 million. The company also posted a quarterly EPS of ($0.26), missing the consensus estimate by $0.23. Despite these setbacks, Westrock Coffee’s adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $13.3 million, reflecting a solid operational performance. However, the company experienced a net loss increase for the year, amounting to $80.3 million compared to the previous year’s $34.6 million.

Westrock Coffee has adjusted its guidance for 2025, projecting an adjusted EBITDA of $60-$73 million, which is lower than the previous forecast. This revision accounts for the scale-up costs at the Conway Facility. Analysts from Benchmark and Stifel have maintained their Buy ratings on the company, with price targets of $10 and $12, respectively, suggesting confidence in Westrock Coffee’s long-term growth potential despite current challenges. The company’s CEO highlighted new major brand relationships and ongoing contract impacts on the Conway facility, indicating strategic progress.

Westrock Coffee’s Beverage Solutions segment showed a 29% increase in adjusted EBITDA, while the Sustainable Sourcing & Traceability segment saw a 34.9% rise in net sales. The company anticipates significant growth in its core coffee business and ready-to-drink can volumes in the coming years. Despite the revised forecasts and earnings miss, analysts remain optimistic about the company’s future, citing the potential for substantial EBITDA growth over the next two years.

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