Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the six ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $31.70.

Several analysts have recently commented on GPK shares. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $30.00 price target (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

Shares of GPK opened at $27.74 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $27.01 and a 200-day moving average of $28.39. The company has a market cap of $8.33 billion, a PE ratio of 12.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. Graphic Packaging has a one year low of $25.13 and a one year high of $30.70.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last issued 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). The firm had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.47% and a return on equity of 25.96%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.75 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Graphic Packaging will post 2.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Investors 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 1.59%. This is a positive change from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging’s payout ratio is currently 20.37%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in GPK. Howard Capital Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,007,968 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $29,826,000 after purchasing an additional 2,969 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter valued at $289,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 846.4% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 84,383 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $2,497,000 after purchasing an additional 75,467 shares in the last quarter. XML Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 23.3% during the 3rd quarter. XML Financial LLC now owns 20,410 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $604,000 after purchasing an additional 3,860 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter valued at $271,000. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Graphic Packaging Company Profile

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.