Versor Investments LP Makes New Investment in Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG)

Versor Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 7,200 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $1,621,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stifel Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 1,462.2% during the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 573,073 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $123,440,000 after acquiring an additional 536,389 shares in the last quarter. Conning Inc. acquired a new position in Packaging Co. of America in the 4th quarter worth about $32,329,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its position in Packaging Co. of America by 218.1% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 207,700 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $44,739,000 after purchasing an additional 142,400 shares in the last quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC grew its holdings in Packaging Co. of America by 1,800.2% in the third quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC now owns 130,583 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $28,128,000 after purchasing an additional 123,711 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 3.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,948,546 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $855,212,000 after buying an additional 123,050 shares in the last quarter. 89.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Packaging Co. of America news, SVP Joseph Vaughn sold 2,300 shares of Packaging Co. of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $244.89, for a total value of $563,247.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 9,197 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,252,253.33. This trade represents a 20.01 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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Packaging Co. of America Stock Performance

Shares of PKG stock traded down $3.70 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $209.39. 773,040 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 910,377. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $222.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $222.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a current ratio of 2.95. Packaging Co. of America has a 12-month low of $169.00 and a 12-month high of $250.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.77.

Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.51 by ($0.04). Packaging Co. of America had a return on equity of 19.67% and a net margin of 9.60%. On average, analysts forecast that Packaging Co. of America will post 10.44 EPS for the current year.

Packaging Co. of America Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.39%. Packaging Co. of America's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 55.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PKG. StockNews.com upgraded Packaging Co. of America from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Packaging Co. of America from $253.00 to $236.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Packaging Co. of America from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $215.00 to $280.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Packaging Co. of America from $232.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Packaging Co. of America from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $233.00.

Packaging Co. of America Company Profile

Packaging Corporation of America engages in the production of container products. It operates through the following segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers a variety of corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers. The Paper segment manufactures and sells a range of papers, including communication-based papers, and pressure sensitive papers.