Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Shares Sold by BNP Paribas Financial Markets

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lowered its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) by 89.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 37,191 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 325,095 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $1,010,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Synergy Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 108.6% during the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 64,343 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,810,000 after acquiring an additional 33,493 shares during the last quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,021,143 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $27,734,000 after purchasing an additional 13,175 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 8.0% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,610,233 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $313,957,000 after purchasing an additional 787,266 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 194,467 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $5,282,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Finally, Advocate Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 14.5% during the 4th quarter. Advocate Group LLC now owns 226,399 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $6,149,000 after purchasing an additional 28,703 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Raymond James reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 target price (down previously from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Truist Financial decreased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $26.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $29.17.

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 0.0%

NYSE GPK traded down $0.00 on Monday, reaching $22.62. The company had a trading volume of 3,175,577 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,520,934. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.83 billion, a PE ratio of 10.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1 year low of $20.86 and a 1 year high of $30.70. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $24.25 and a 200-day moving average of $26.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.54.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $2.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.14 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 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.66 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 21.46%.

Graphic Packaging declared that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 1st that allows the company to buyback $1.50 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the industrial products company to repurchase up to 23.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

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.