Handelsbanken Fonder AB Cuts Stock Position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB decreased its position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,518,156 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 299,400 shares during the period. Graphic Packaging comprises approximately 0.7% of Handelsbanken Fonder AB's portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned 1.80% of Graphic Packaging worth $136,023,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of GPK. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the 1st quarter worth about $519,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging in the 1st quarter worth about $184,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,105,236 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $302,709,000 after purchasing an additional 377,055 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 25,660 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $547,000 after buying an additional 792 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 9.0% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 11,619 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $233,000 after buying an additional 955 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company's stock.

Graphic Packaging Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE GPK traded up $0.14 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $27.35. 2,249,889 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,382,940. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1 year low of $20.07 and a 1 year high of $29.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.64 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The business has a 50 day moving average of $27.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $24.76.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.06. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 35.66% and a net margin of 7.67%. The business had revenue of $2.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.59 earnings per share. Graphic Packaging's revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 5th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging's payout ratio is 17.02%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Citigroup boosted their price target on Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "underweight" rating and issued a $21.00 price target on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Monday, April 1st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Graphic Packaging from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. One equities 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $28.44.

Insider Activity at Graphic Packaging

In other Graphic Packaging news, EVP Joseph P. Yost sold 70,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total value of $1,834,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 205,231 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,377,052.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Graphic Packaging 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.