EntryPoint Capital LLC Takes Position in Graphic Packaging Holding Company $GPK

EntryPoint Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE:GPK) during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor purchased 10,987 shares of the industrial products company’s stock, valued at approximately $285,000.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,655,111 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $795,807,000 after purchasing an additional 929,764 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 11.7% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 18,488,501 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $479,962,000 after purchasing an additional 1,932,841 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,351,192 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $268,717,000 after purchasing an additional 781,509 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 1,004.9% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 9,240,697 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $239,888,000 after purchasing an additional 8,404,340 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 7,890,782 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $204,844,000 after purchasing an additional 1,018,017 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the company’s stock.

Graphic Packaging Price Performance

GPK stock opened at $23.0240 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The company has a market capitalization of $6.82 billion, a PE ratio of 13.01, a P/E/G ratio of 7.78 and a beta of 0.73. Graphic Packaging Holding Company has a 12-month low of $20.86 and a 12-month high of $30.70. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $22.21 and its 200 day moving average price is $23.85.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The industrial products company reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.02. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 21.13% and a net margin of 6.18%.The company had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.13 billion. Graphic Packaging has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.900-2.20 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Graphic Packaging Holding Company will post 2.47 EPS for the current year.

Graphic Packaging announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program 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 buy up to 23.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.9%. Graphic Packaging’s dividend payout ratio is 24.86%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Graphic Packaging news, Director Philip R. Martens sold 7,015 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.80, for a total transaction of $152,927.00. Following the sale, the director owned 26,811 shares in the company, valued at $584,479.80. This represents a 20.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. BNP Paribas Exane lowered Graphic Packaging from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Bank of America decreased their price target on Graphic Packaging from $31.00 to $28.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Raymond James Financial reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $26.00 price objective (down previously from $30.00) on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Graphic Packaging from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $26.38.

Graphic Packaging 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.