Terra Alpha Investments LLC Makes New Investment in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Terra Alpha Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 48,046 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,247,000.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Picton Mahoney Asset Management increased 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 buying an additional 394 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 92.7% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Mizuho Bank Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter worth about $43,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 42.3% in 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter worth about $79,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the company's stock.

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 2.6%

GPK traded down $0.56 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $21.11. 3,302,155 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,560,826. Graphic Packaging Holding has a fifty-two week low of $20.86 and a fifty-two week high of $30.70. The company has a market cap of $6.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.77, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $23.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.85.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.05). Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.47% and a return on equity of 25.96%. The firm had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.66 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.08%. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio is presently 21.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on GPK shares. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $26.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $24.00 price target for the company. Finally, Raymond James reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price objective (down from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $28.53.

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.