Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) Sets New 1-Year High at $29.44

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $29.44 and last traded at $29.43, with a volume of 1489493 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $28.80.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GPK has been the subject of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company restated an "underweight" rating and set a $21.00 price target on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Monday, April 1st. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 4th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Graphic Packaging from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $28.44.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $9.00 billion, a PE ratio of 12.51 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The business's fifty day moving average price is $26.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.44.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 35.66%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.59 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.71 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 5th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th were issued a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.36%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio is 17.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Joseph P. Yost sold 70,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total value of $1,834,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 205,231 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,377,052.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Graphic Packaging

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 870.7% during the 3rd quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,291 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 1,158 shares in the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.