Swiss National Bank Trims Stock Position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Swiss National Bank lowered its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) by 1.6% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 590,300 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after selling 9,500 shares during the period. Swiss National Bank’s holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $16,033,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 2,484.0% during the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 1,242 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 92.7% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 58.2% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,493 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Citigroup restated 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. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target 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. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $31.70.

Graphic Packaging Price Performance

NYSE:GPK opened at $26.22 on Wednesday. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12 month low of $25.13 and a 12 month high of $30.70. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $26.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $28.24. 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 cap of $7.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $2.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.75 earnings per share. Graphic Packaging’s quarterly revenue was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Saturday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. This is a boost from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging’s 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.