UMB Bank n.a. Grows Stake in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) by 42.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,125 shares of the industrial products company’s stock after purchasing an additional 632 shares during the quarter. UMB Bank n.a.’s holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $55,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Picton Mahoney Asset Management lifted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 92.7% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,432 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 689 shares during the period. Mizuho Bank Ltd. acquired a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the fourth quarter worth approximately $43,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter worth approximately $79,000. Finally, Atala Financial Inc acquired a new position in Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter valued at $109,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Graphic Packaging Trading Down 2.6%

Shares of GPK stock opened at $21.11 on Friday. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12 month low of $20.86 and a 12 month high of $30.70. The company has a market cap of $6.37 billion, a PE ratio of 9.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. The business’s 50 day moving average is $23.29 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.82.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.05). Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 25.96% and a net margin of 7.47%. The firm had revenue of $2.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.14 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.66 EPS. Graphic Packaging’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.47 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to repurchase up to 23.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, July 5th. Investors of record on Sunday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.08%. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on GPK shares. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Raymond James reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $26.00 price target (down previously from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $32.00 to $26.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, UBS Group initiated coverage on Graphic Packaging in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $24.00 price objective on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Graphic Packaging presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $28.53.

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.