Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) Hits New 1-Year Low - Time to Sell?

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $23.82 and last traded at $24.26, with a volume of 1040541 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $25.14.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have commented on GPK shares. Citigroup restated a "neutral" rating and set a $30.00 price objective (down from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial lowered their price target on Graphic Packaging from $31.00 to $30.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Graphic Packaging from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $31.37.

Graphic Packaging Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The firm has a market cap of $7.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.80. The business has a 50-day moving average of $26.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.67.

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Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK - Get Free Report) last released 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 in the prior year, the company earned $0.75 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was down 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, April 5th. Stockholders of record on Saturday, March 15th were paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.78%. This is an increase from Graphic Packaging's previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.37%.

Institutional Trading of Graphic Packaging

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GPK. Picton Mahoney Asset Management grew its position in shares of 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 position in shares of Graphic Packaging in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 2,484.0% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,242 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its position in 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 valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 689 shares during the period. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.