Shares outstanding are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them. WH Smith's average basic shares outstanding for the quarter that ended in Feb. 2026 was 125 Mil.
WH Smith (LSE:SMWH) Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Explanation
A company may buy back shares or issue shares in any fiscal period. If a company buys back shares, we should observe that the total number of shares decline. If the company issues new shares, the number of shares outstanding increases.
Be Aware
Usually the presence of treasury shares and a history of buyback are good indicators that company has competitive advantage. But studies have shown that companies usually buy back at wrong time. Buying back shares below its intrinsic value increases value for remaining shareholders. Buying back overvalued shares destroys value for existing shareholders.
WH Smith Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Related Terms
WH Smith Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Historical Data
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The historical data trend for WH Smith's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
WH Smith Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) Calculation
Shares outstanding are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them. They have voting rights and represent ownership in the corporation by the person that holds the shares. They should be distinguished from treasury shares, which are shares held by the corporation itself, having no exercisable rights.
Shares outstanding can be calculated as either basic or fully diluted. The fully diluted shares outstanding count includes diluting securities, such as options, warrants or convertibles.
Please note: GuruFocus named Shares Outstanding (EOP) is the shares for that exact time point. It is usually used to calculate balance sheet related items, such as Book Value per Share, etc. While Shares Outstanding (Diluted Average) and Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) are the weighted average shares over a period of time (a year, a quarter, or so). They are usually used to calculate income statement or cashflow statement related items, such as Earnings per Share (Diluted), etc.
What does a Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) of 125 Mil mean?
WH Smith (LSE:SMWH) has a Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) of 125 Mil as of Feb. 2026. The average shares outstanding over two periods not accounting for dilutive securities like convertible bonds. View historical data on WH Smith and its competitors.
Is WH Smith's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) too high?
WH Smith's current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 125 Mil. Overall, WH Smith has a GF Score™ of 55/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does WH Smith's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) compare to CASY and WSM?
WH Smith's Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) of 125 Mil can be compared against companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) for a Retail - Cyclical company?
A good Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) depends on the Retail - Cyclical industry context. However, Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) mean?
A high Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The average shares outstanding over two periods not accounting for dilutive securities like convertible bonds. View historical data on WH Smith and its competitors. WH Smith's current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 125 Mil. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is WH Smith stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, WH Smith (LSE:SMWH) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is £11.97, compared to a current price of £3.97 — trading 66.9% below its estimated fair value. The current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 125 Mil. WH Smith's overall GF Score™ is 55/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) calculated?
Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is calculated from a company's financial statements. For WH Smith (LSE:SMWH), the current Shares Outstanding (Basic Average) is 125 Mil as of Feb. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is WH Smith (LSE:SMWH) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, WH Smith stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of £3.97 is trading 66.9% below its estimated GF Value™ of £11.97.
GuruFocus considers WH Smith to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for LSE:SMWH:
Shares Outstanding (Basic Average): 125 Mil
GF Value™: £11.97 vs. price of £3.97 (66.9% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the LSE:SMWH stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
WH Smith PLC is a travel retailer providing travel essentials through stores in high-footfall transport hubs, operating as a pure-play travel retail business following the sale of its High Street operations. The Company offers a broad portfolio of products and services, including books and magazines, food-to-go, beverages, health and beauty items, travel and technology accessories, and selected partner services. Its operations are organised into three segments: the UK, which generates the majority of revenue and operates stores across airports, hospitals, railway stations, and service areas; North America, with stores mainly in airports and a Resorts business in Las Vegas; and the Rest of the World.
55GF Score
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