Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) Receives “Neutral” Rating from Citigroup

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK)‘s stock had its “neutral” rating reissued by equities research analysts at Citigroup in a report released on Monday,Benzinga reports. They currently have a $30.00 price objective on the industrial products company’s stock, down from their prior price objective of $33.00. Citigroup’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 13.25% from the company’s previous close.

Several other research firms have also commented on GPK. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday. Truist Financial lowered Graphic Packaging from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $32.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Graphic Packaging from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $32.03.

Graphic Packaging Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of Graphic Packaging stock opened at $26.49 on Monday. Graphic Packaging has a twelve month low of $23.47 and a twelve month high of $30.70. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 1.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $28.64 and a 200-day moving average price of $28.54. The firm has a market cap of $7.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.32, a PEG ratio of 11.42 and a beta of 0.85.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The industrial products company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.27 billion. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 28.26% and a net margin of 7.99%. The business’s revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.74 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging will post 2.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Graphic Packaging

In related news, EVP Michael James Farrell sold 25,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.99, for a total value of $750,841.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 81,026 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,348,943.74. This represents a 24.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Charles D. Lischer sold 12,000 shares of Graphic Packaging stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.65, for a total transaction of $355,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 49,849 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,478,022.85. The trade was a 19.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Graphic Packaging

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 546.6% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 944 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 798 shares during the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in Graphic Packaging in the third quarter worth $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the third quarter worth $73,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 57.0% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,308 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,564 shares during the last quarter. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 29.0% during the 3rd quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 5,130 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $152,000 after purchasing an additional 1,153 shares during the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Graphic Packaging Company 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.