Weyerhaeuser: Knights Cuts 18.3% Stake, Goldman Raises 18.2%, CEO Sells $2.10M
Knights of Columbus cut its Weyerhaeuser stake by 18.3% to 90,500 shares ($2.24M), while Goldman Sachs raised its holding by 18.2% to 2.25 million shares ($65.88M). CEO Devin Stockfish sold 90,162 shares at $23.33 ($2.10M) and director Sara Grootwassink Lewis bought 4,500 shares at $23.61.
1. Major Stake Reduction by Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors
During the third quarter, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC reduced its position in Weyerhaeuser Company by 18.3%, selling 20,337 shares and closing the period with 90,500 shares valued at $2.24 million. This divestiture marks a shift in the portfolio allocation of a long‐standing institutional investor and represents a notable change in ownership dynamics for the timberland real estate investment trust.
2. Hedge Fund Position Adjustments Among Large Investors
Several prominent money managers also updated their holdings in the first half of the fiscal year. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake by 18.2%, adding 346,571 shares for a total of 2,249,932 shares valued at $65.9 million. Intech Investment Management LLC added 3,124 shares (a 5.9% rise) to reach 56,265 shares worth $1.65 million, while Empowered Funds LLC increased its position by 3.4% to 46,049 shares valued at $1.35 million. HB Wealth Management LLC and Trust Co. of Vermont made more modest additions of 663 and 1,666 shares, respectively, reflecting continued institutional confidence in the company’s core timberland holdings.
3. Significant Insider Transactions Highlight Management Views
In mid‐December, Chief Executive Officer Devin W. Stockfish sold 90,162 shares at an average price of $23.33, netting approximately $2.10 million and reducing his stake by just over 8%. Conversely, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis purchased 4,500 shares at an average cost of $23.61, investing $106,245 and boosting her holding by nearly 21%. Insider ownership now stands at roughly 0.27%, indicating selective confidence from the board and executive leadership.
4. Analyst Ratings, Consensus Outlook and Dividend Profile
Wall Street’s consensus rating remains at Hold, with six firms on Buy recommendations, three at Hold and two at Sell. The average target price is $28.50, with recent downward revisions from Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and DA Davidson reflecting cautious sentiment on lumber pricing and volume trends. On the dividend front, the company declared a quarterly distribution of $0.21 per share, yielding 3.3% annually, with a payout ratio near 191% that underscores the board’s commitment to returning capital despite earnings volatility.