Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the six brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $31.70.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Graphic Packaging from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Citigroup restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $30.00 target price (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th.

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of Graphic Packaging stock opened at $26.43 on Thursday. Graphic Packaging has a 1 year low of $23.47 and a 1 year high of $30.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The company has a market capitalization of $7.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.84. The business has a 50-day moving average of $27.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $28.59.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.63 by ($0.04). Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 25.96% and a net margin of 7.47%. The company had revenue of $2.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.75 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Graphic Packaging will post 2.51 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, March 15th will be paid a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. This is an increase from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 18.52%.

Insider Transactions at Graphic Packaging

In related news, CAO Charles D. Lischer sold 12,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.65, for a total value of $355,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 49,849 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,478,022.85. This trade represents a 19.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Graphic Packaging

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Synergy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 108.6% in the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 64,343 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,810,000 after purchasing an additional 33,493 shares during the period. Howard Capital Management Group LLC increased its position in Graphic Packaging by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,021,143 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $27,734,000 after buying an additional 13,175 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in Graphic Packaging by 8.0% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,610,233 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $313,957,000 after buying an additional 787,266 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 23.9% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 707,969 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $20,949,000 after buying an additional 136,342 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hennessy Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,642,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

About Graphic Packaging

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, produces, and sells consumer packaging products to brands in food, beverage, foodservice, household, and other consumer products. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging.