Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Outlook for PKG Earnings

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) – Analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a research note issued on Tuesday, February 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the industrial products company will post earnings of $2.20 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.38. Zacks Research currently has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Packaging Corporation of America’s current full-year earnings is $10.44 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Packaging Corporation of America’s Q2 2026 earnings at $2.60 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.22 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.89 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $3.04 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $3.28 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $12.38 EPS.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The industrial products company reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.41 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion. Packaging Corporation of America had a net margin of 8.61% and a return on equity of 19.18%. The business’s revenue was up 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.47 EPS. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 2.200-2.20 EPS.

PKG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a research report on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $238.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. UBS Group increased their price target on Packaging Corporation of America from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Packaging Corporation of America from $233.00 to $234.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Packaging Corporation of America from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 3rd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Packaging Corporation of America presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $236.00.

Packaging Corporation of America Trading Up 0.4%

PKG opened at $246.00 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average is $216.73 and its 200-day moving average is $209.28. Packaging Corporation of America has a 1-year low of $172.71 and a 1-year high of $249.51. The company has a current ratio of 3.16, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $22.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.70, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.88.

Packaging Corporation of America Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a $1.25 dividend. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. Packaging Corporation of America’s payout ratio is currently 58.34%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Thomas A. Hassfurther sold 12,129 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $230.50, for a total value of $2,795,734.50. Following the sale, the president directly owned 197,062 shares in the company, valued at $45,422,791. This represents a 5.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. FORA Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America during the fourth quarter worth $882,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in Packaging Corporation of America by 38.5% during the fourth quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 42,769 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $8,820,000 after acquiring an additional 11,892 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in Packaging Corporation of America by 50.3% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 22,696 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $4,681,000 after acquiring an additional 7,596 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 58,064 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $11,975,000 after acquiring an additional 1,362 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 112,286 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $23,172,000 after purchasing an additional 4,711 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.78% of the company’s stock.

Packaging Corporation of America Company Profile

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) is a leading North American manufacturer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products. The company produces a range of paper-based packaging solutions including linerboard, corrugating medium, corrugated shipping containers, retail-ready packaging and point-of-purchase displays. In addition to core packaging products, Packaging Corporation of America offers packaging design, testing and supply-chain services intended to optimize protection, cost and sustainability for customers.

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, the company operates an integrated network of mills and corrugated manufacturing facilities across the United States and serves customers throughout North America in industries such as e-commerce, grocery and food & beverage, consumer packaged goods and industrial markets.