Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC Acquires 27,929 Shares of Graphic Packaging Holding Company $GPK

Key Points

• Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Graphic Packaging Holding Company by 8.2%, now owning approximately 0.12% of the company worth $9.5 million.
• Graphic Packaging recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share with a yield of 2.0%, alongside a share repurchase program authorized for up to $1.5 billion.
• Analysts have mixed views on Graphic Packaging, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $26.38, reflecting recent downgrades and adjustments in price objectives.

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) by 8.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 366,486 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 27,929 shares during the period. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned about 0.12% of Graphic Packaging worth $9,514,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging in the first quarter valued at $28,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the first quarter worth approximately $42,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 42.3% during the first quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,125 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 632 shares during the last quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC raised its position in Graphic Packaging by 554.5% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,639 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $94,000 after purchasing an additional 3,083 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Graphic Packaging

In other news, Director Philip R. Martens sold 7,015 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.80, for a total value of $152,927.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 26,811 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,479.80. This trade represents a 20.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.41% of the company's stock.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

GPK stock traded up $0.4020 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $23.2920. 2,087,314 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,078,979. Graphic Packaging Holding Company has a 12 month low of $20.86 and a 12 month high of $30.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.16, a P/E/G ratio of 7.67 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $22.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $23.88.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The industrial products company reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.13 billion. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 21.13% and a net margin of 6.18%. Graphic Packaging has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.900-2.20 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Graphic Packaging Holding Company will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback program on Thursday, May 1st that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the industrial products company to repurchase up to 23.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 5th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. Graphic Packaging's payout ratio is presently 24.86%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GPK has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $31.00 to $28.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price target (down from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Friday, July 11th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane downgraded Graphic Packaging from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $26.38.

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.