Brokerages Set Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Target Price at $30.89

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $29.17.

Several brokerages have issued reports on GPK. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $30.00 target price (down from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $26.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Raymond James reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 price objective (down from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Friday. Finally, Truist Financial lowered 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.

Graphic Packaging Price Performance

Graphic Packaging stock opened at $22.13 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $25.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.25, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.46. Graphic Packaging has a 52-week low of $20.86 and a 52-week high of $30.70.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.05). Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 25.96% and a net margin of 7.47%. The company had revenue of $2.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.66 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Graphic Packaging will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Graphic Packaging declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, May 1st that allows the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the industrial products company to reacquire up to 23.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Graphic Packaging

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Howard Capital Management Group LLC grew its stake in Graphic Packaging by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,007,968 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $29,826,000 after purchasing an additional 2,969 shares during the period. Barclays PLC raised its position in Graphic Packaging by 8.8% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 637,199 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $18,854,000 after acquiring an additional 51,451 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in Graphic Packaging in the third quarter valued at about $359,000. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $414,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $73,000. 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.