Empowered Funds LLC Invests $1.72 Million in Graphic Packaging Holding Company $GPK

Key Points

• Empowered Funds LLC purchased 162,770 shares of Graphic Packaging, valued at approximately $1.72 million, giving it about a 0.05% stake. Institutional investors collectively own 99.67% of the company.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: nine analysts rate GPK as a Hold and three as a Sell, resulting in an average “Reduce” rating and a consensus price target of $11.14.
• Graphic Packaging exceeded quarterly earnings expectations with $0.14 EPS versus $0.12 forecast, while revenue declined 0.7% year over year. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share, representing a 4.1% yield.

Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 162,770 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,720,000. Empowered Funds LLC owned about 0.05% of Graphic Packaging at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quarry LP lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 282.0% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,547 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 1,142 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 13,971.4% in the 4th quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,970 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 1,956 shares during the last quarter. Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in Graphic Packaging in the 3rd quarter valued at about $45,000. Bell Investment Advisors Inc bought a new position in Graphic Packaging in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 2,321.1% in the 1st quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 3,220 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 3,087 shares during the period. 99.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have issued reports on GPK. Bank of America began coverage on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $12.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup increased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Graphic Packaging from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Graphic Packaging in a research note on Monday, June 29th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $11.70 price target for the company. Finally, Zacks Research raised Graphic Packaging from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, June 1st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus price target of $11.14.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

GPK opened at $10.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 1.38. Graphic Packaging Holding Company has a 52-week low of $8.78 and a 52-week high of $21.71. The firm has a market cap of $3.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.20 and a beta of 0.65. The business's fifty day moving average is $11.12 and its 200-day moving average is $10.65.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.02. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 2.25% and a return on equity of 9.95%. The business had revenue of $2.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.42 earnings per share. Graphic Packaging's revenue was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. Graphic Packaging has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.650-0.900 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Graphic Packaging Holding Company will post 0.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 6th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.1%. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.67%.

About Graphic Packaging

Graphic Packaging Holding Company is a leading provider of sustainable paperboard packaging solutions, offering a broad portfolio of products designed for food, beverage and other consumer goods markets. The company specializes in the manufacture of containerboard, folding cartons and engineered fill materials, as well as beverage packaging systems including paperboard cups, carriers and related components.

Through a network of manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe and Latin America, Graphic Packaging serves a diverse customer base that includes major consumer packaged goods companies, quick-service restaurants and retail chains.

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