Brokerages Set Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) PT at $31.70

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

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

Institutional Trading of Graphic Packaging

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Picton Mahoney Asset Management lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 55.4% in the fourth quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 1,105 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 394 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 2,484.0% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,242 shares during the period. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 92.7% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 689 shares during the period. 99.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:GPK opened at $26.27 on Monday. Graphic Packaging has a one year low of $25.13 and a one year high of $30.70. The company has a market cap of $7.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.16, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.46. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $27.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.36.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.15 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.47% and a return on equity of 25.96%. Graphic Packaging’s revenue was down 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.75 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Graphic Packaging will post 2.47 earnings per share 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. Stockholders of record on Saturday, March 15th will be given a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.68%. This is a boost from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio is currently 20.37%.

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.