UBS Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) Stock Price

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) had its target price cut by investment analysts at UBS Group from $13.00 to $10.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has a “neutral” rating on the industrial products company’s stock. UBS Group’s price target would indicate a potential upside of 3.57% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on GPK. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. They issued a “hold” rating and a $9.60 target price for the company. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $16.00 to $13.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Zacks Research lowered Graphic Packaging from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Graphic Packaging from $11.00 to $9.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 20th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $14.51.

Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

Shares of Graphic Packaging stock opened at $9.66 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $2.86 billion, a PE ratio of 6.52 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 1.30. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.05 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.46. Graphic Packaging has a one year low of $8.78 and a one year high of $25.81.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last announced its earnings results on Monday, March 2nd. The industrial products company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 5.15% and a return on equity of 16.58%. Research analysts expect that Graphic Packaging will post 2.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Graphic Packaging

In other Graphic Packaging news, CEO Robbert Rietbroek purchased 44,278 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $11.32 per share, for a total transaction of $501,226.96. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 44,278 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $501,226.96. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.41% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Graphic Packaging

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of GPK. Quarry LP boosted its position in Graphic Packaging by 282.0% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,547 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 1,142 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd boosted its position in Graphic Packaging by 13,971.4% in the fourth quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,970 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 1,956 shares during the last quarter. Marshall & Sterling Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its position in Graphic Packaging by 649.6% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,039 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 1,767 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the second quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

About Graphic Packaging

Graphic Packaging Holding Company is a leading provider of sustainable paperboard packaging solutions, offering a broad portfolio of products designed for food, beverage and other consumer goods markets. The company specializes in the manufacture of containerboard, folding cartons and engineered fill materials, as well as beverage packaging systems including paperboard cups, carriers and related components.

Through a network of manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe and Latin America, Graphic Packaging serves a diverse customer base that includes major consumer packaged goods companies, quick-service restaurants and retail chains.