Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Stock Position Boosted by Pullen Investment Management LLC

Pullen Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) by 21.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 109,243 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 19,243 shares during the period. Graphic Packaging comprises 1.9% of Pullen Investment Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Pullen Investment Management LLC's holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $2,967,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Picton Mahoney Asset Management raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 55.4% during the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 1,105 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 11,163 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $303,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 9,231 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $251,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 24,606 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $692,000 after buying an additional 486 shares during the period. Finally, Keynote Financial Services LLC increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Keynote Financial Services LLC now owns 7,607 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $207,000 after buying an additional 492 shares during the period. 99.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Graphic Packaging Trading Down 2.5%

GPK stock traded down $0.58 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $22.36. 3,880,286 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,530,678. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.35, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $24.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $26.41. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12-month low of $20.86 and a 12-month high of $30.70.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $2.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.14 billion. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 25.96% and a net margin of 7.47%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.66 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 5th. Investors of record on Sunday, June 15th will be issued a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.97%. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.46%.

Graphic Packaging announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 1st that permits the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the industrial products company to reacquire up to 23.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are 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.