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

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $42,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 42.3% during the 1st 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 bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Finally, Signaturefd LLC increased its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 554.5% during the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 3,639 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $94,000 after purchasing an additional 3,083 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded Graphic Packaging from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. 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 restated an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price objective (down previously from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $26.00 to $25.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $26.38.

Insider Buying and Selling at Graphic Packaging

In other news, Director Philip R. Martens sold 56,737 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.84, for a total value of $1,239,136.08. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 33,826 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $738,759.84. This represents a 62.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.41% of the company's stock.

Graphic Packaging Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE GPK traded up $0.2850 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $22.8650. 2,927,581 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,082,865. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $22.15 and a 200 day moving average of $23.91. Graphic Packaging Holding Company has a 1 year low of $20.86 and a 1 year high of $30.70. The stock has a market cap of $6.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.92, a P/E/G ratio of 7.73 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68.

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

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

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

Graphic Packaging announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, May 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to purchase up to 23.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

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.