Markel Group Inc. Boosts Stake in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

Markel Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK - Free Report) by 8.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 427,225 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 32,500 shares during the period. Markel Group Inc. owned 0.14% of Graphic Packaging worth $11,603,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of GPK. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 14.7% in the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 77,909 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $2,116,000 after acquiring an additional 9,970 shares in the last quarter. Barings LLC acquired a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,383,000. Amundi increased its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 6.7% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 4,799,090 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $128,178,000 after purchasing an additional 302,168 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 8.7% in the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 30,629 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $832,000 after buying an additional 2,441 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 27.7% in the fourth quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 423,560 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $11,953,000 after buying an additional 91,825 shares during the period. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

Shares of Graphic Packaging stock traded down $0.09 during trading on Thursday, hitting $26.15. 802,227 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,329,973. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1 year low of $25.13 and a 1 year high of $30.70. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $27.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.11, a PEG ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.81.

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

Graphic Packaging Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, April 5th. Investors of record on Saturday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. This is a boost from Graphic Packaging's previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.68%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Graphic Packaging's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.37%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have weighed in on GPK. Citigroup reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $30.00 price objective (down from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $36.00 to $32.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Graphic Packaging has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus 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.