Short Interest in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) Decreases By 6.8%

Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 18,780,000 shares, a decline of 6.8% from the December 15th total of 20,160,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,370,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 7.9 days.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Graphic Packaging news, CAO Charles D. Lischer sold 12,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $29.65, for a total value of $355,800.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 49,849 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,478,022.85. This represents a 19.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael James Farrell sold 25,900 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.99, for a total transaction of $750,841.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 81,026 shares in the company, valued at $2,348,943.74. This represents a 24.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Graphic Packaging

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 546.6% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 944 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 798 shares during the period. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in Graphic Packaging in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Graphic Packaging by 2,484.0% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,292 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,242 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the third quarter valued at approximately $73,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 57.0% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,308 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 1,564 shares in the last quarter. 99.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Graphic Packaging Trading Up 1.2 %

Graphic Packaging stock traded up $0.34 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $27.99. The stock had a trading volume of 2,789,618 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,720,368. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $28.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.55. Graphic Packaging has a twelve month low of $23.47 and a twelve month high of $30.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.40 billion, a PE ratio of 11.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.62 and a beta of 0.85.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The industrial products company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.68 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.27 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.99% and a return on equity of 28.26%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.74 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Graphic Packaging will post 2.53 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, January 5th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, December 15th were paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.09%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on GPK. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $30.00 target price (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $35.00 to $34.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Graphic Packaging from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Graphic Packaging from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $24.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $32.37.

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.