MQS Management LLC Takes Position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)

MQS Management LLC bought a new position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 15,336 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $454,000.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co increased its holdings in shares of Graphic Packaging by 171.7% in the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 603,023 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $17,631,000 after buying an additional 381,112 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 832,035 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $23,907,000 after purchasing an additional 33,691 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in Graphic Packaging by 99.6% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 104,490 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $3,049,000 after purchasing an additional 52,139 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 268.7% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 51,261 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $1,350,000 after purchasing an additional 37,358 shares during the period. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in shares of Graphic Packaging in the second quarter worth approximately $928,000. 99.67% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:GPK opened at $28.63 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.73. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 52-week low of $21.54 and a 52-week high of $30.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.24, a P/E/G ratio of 11.31 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $29.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $28.28.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The industrial products company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by ($0.04). Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 28.26% and a net margin of 7.99%. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.74 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on GPK. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. StockNews.com lowered shares of Graphic Packaging from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Graphic Packaging from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, Truist Financial cut Graphic Packaging from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $32.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $31.53.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Michael James Farrell sold 25,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.99, for a total value of $750,841.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 81,026 shares in the company, valued at $2,348,943.74. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.20% of the company’s stock.

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.