AlphaCentric Advisors LLC Takes Position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

AlphaCentric Advisors LLC bought a new position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 40,000 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,086,000. Graphic Packaging comprises about 1.1% of AlphaCentric Advisors LLC's holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in GPK. Truvestments Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of 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 worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,242 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 58.2% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,493 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the 3rd quarter valued at about $73,000. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Graphic Packaging Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of GPK traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $27.03. The stock had a trading volume of 2,092,535 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,370,644. 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 Holding has a 12-month low of $24.93 and a 12-month high of $30.70. The firm has a market cap of $8.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.84. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $27.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.50.

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

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Saturday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.63%. This is a boost from Graphic Packaging's previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio is presently 18.52%.

Insider Transactions at Graphic Packaging

In other Graphic Packaging news, CAO Charles D. Lischer sold 12,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.65, for a total transaction of $355,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 49,849 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,478,022.85. The trade was a 19.40 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.20% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com cut Graphic Packaging from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $30.00 price target (down from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Graphic Packaging presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $31.70.

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.