Clear Investment Research LLC Boosts Position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Clear Investment Research LLC boosted its position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 217,926 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after buying an additional 9,981 shares during the quarter. Graphic Packaging comprises 7.8% of Clear Investment Research LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 3rd largest holding. Clear Investment Research LLC’s holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $5,919,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new position in Graphic Packaging during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Picton Mahoney Asset Management raised its position in Graphic Packaging by 55.4% in the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 1,105 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 394 shares during the last quarter. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Graphic Packaging by 2,484.0% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 1,242 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 92.7% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GPK has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $30.00 target price (down from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $31.70.

Graphic Packaging Price Performance

Shares of GPK opened at $26.00 on Friday. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12-month low of $25.13 and a 12-month high of $30.70. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.21. 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 stock has a market cap of $7.80 billion, a PE ratio of 12.03, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The industrial products company reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.04). Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 25.96% and a net margin of 7.47%. The firm had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.75 EPS. Graphic Packaging’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, March 15th will be given a $0.11 dividend. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Graphic Packaging’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. Graphic Packaging’s payout ratio is 20.37%.

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.