Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) has received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the seven brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have assigned a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $28.43.

Several research firms have recently commented on GPK. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an “underweight” rating and issued a $21.00 price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Monday, April 1st.

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 0.2 %

GPK stock opened at $25.85 on Wednesday. Graphic Packaging has a one year low of $20.07 and a one year high of $29.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.94 billion, a PE ratio of 11.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.66 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.72, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 1.24. The company has a fifty day moving average of $27.41 and a 200-day moving average of $26.72.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.03. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.36% and a return on equity of 32.55%. The company had revenue of $2.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.38 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.77 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Graphic Packaging will post 2.66 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 5th. Investors of record on Saturday, June 15th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 14th. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 18.10%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Graphic Packaging

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new position in Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the first quarter worth about $26,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. LRI Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the first quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the fourth quarter worth about $44,000. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.