Advocate Group LLC Increases Holdings in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Advocate Group LLC grew its holdings in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) by 14.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 226,399 shares of the industrial products company's stock after purchasing an additional 28,703 shares during the period. Advocate Group LLC owned approximately 0.08% of Graphic Packaging worth $6,149,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its stake in Graphic Packaging by 268.7% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 51,261 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $1,350,000 after acquiring an additional 37,358 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in Graphic Packaging by 8.0% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,610,233 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $313,957,000 after purchasing an additional 787,266 shares during the last quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC boosted its position in Graphic Packaging by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 1,021,143 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $27,734,000 after buying an additional 13,175 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 23.9% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 707,969 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $20,949,000 after buying an additional 136,342 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 26.1% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 27,575 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $816,000 after buying an additional 5,699 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE GPK traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $27.31. 3,190,062 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,597,388. Graphic Packaging Holding has a one year low of $23.47 and a one year high of $30.70. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $28.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.73. The company has a market cap of $8.20 billion, a PE ratio of 11.67 and a beta of 0.85.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The industrial products company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.68 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.27 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.99% and a return on equity of 28.26%. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.74 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.53 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, January 5th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, December 15th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.46%. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.09%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on GPK. Wells Fargo & Company raised Graphic Packaging from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $24.00 to $27.00 in a report on Monday, January 6th. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $30.00 price target (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Graphic Packaging from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $32.37.

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.