Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) Reaches New 52-Week Low on Analyst Downgrade

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Monday after Truist Financial lowered their price target on the stock from $31.00 to $30.00. Truist Financial currently has a hold rating on the stock. Graphic Packaging traded as low as $24.50 and last traded at $25.20, with a volume of 170534 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $25.29.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Citigroup reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $30.00 price objective (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $31.37.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Graphic Packaging

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Howard Capital Management Group LLC grew its stake 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 buying an additional 2,969 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 13.8% in the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 26,631 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $788,000 after acquiring an additional 3,239 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the third quarter valued at about $343,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 6.5% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 1,651,176 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $48,858,000 after acquiring an additional 101,479 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nwam LLC purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 3rd quarter worth about $235,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Graphic Packaging Stock Up 0.2 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $26.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.14.

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

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, March 15th will be given a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.74%. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.37%.

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.