PKG

Lake Forest, Illinois-based Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) manufactures and sells containerboard and uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper products in North America. Valued at a market cap of $21.5 billion, the company operates through Packaging and Paper segments. PKG is expected to release its Q2 2026 earnings on Wednesday, July 22, after the market closes. Ahead of the event, analysts expect the company’s EPS to be $2.36 on a diluted basis, down 4.8% from $2.48 in the year-ago quarter. The company has exceeded Wall Street’s EPS estimates in two of its last four quarters, while missing on two other occasions. Billionaire Mark Cuban Asks If AI ‘Collapses’ And Data Centers Turn Into ‘Chuck E Cheeses,’ Would That ‘Create A Revival Of Jobs?’ As Trump Doubles Down on Quantum Computing, This Is the Top-Performing Stock to Buy YTD Why Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Should Be Terrified of Elon Musk’s Next Move Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! For fiscal 2026, analysts project the company’s EPS to be $10.45, up 6.2% from $9.84 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, its EPS is expected to rise by roughly 17.8% year over year (YoY) to $12.31 in fiscal 2027. PKG’s stock has risen 28.7% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 19.8% rise and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF’s (XLY) 6.4% return during the same time frame. On Apr. 22, PKG stock declined 2.5% following the release of its Q1 2026 earnings. The company’s revenue for the quarter rose 10.6% from the prior year’s quarter to $2.4 billion and missed the Street’s estimates. Moreover, its adjusted EPS came in at $1.91, also missing Wall Street’s forecasts. Analysts are somewhat bullish on PKG, with the stock having a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Among the 12 analysts covering the stock, eight are recommending a “Strong Buy,” and four suggest a “Hold.” PKG’s average analyst price target of $240.58 is above current levels; however, its Street-high price target of $258 indicates a 6.8% upside potential. On the date of publication, Aritra Gangopadhyay did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational pu...

LAKE FOREST, Ill., June 22, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) will hold a conference call on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss second quarter 2026 results. The conference call leader will be Mark Kowlzan. Second quarter earnings results will be released after the market closes on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. To access the conference call, you may pre-register for the conference by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10205355/102fb95d496. Once you have registered, you will receive your dial-in number. When dialing in the day of the call, please ask to join the Packaging Corporation of America earnings call. If you prefer not to pre-register, you may dial in the day of the call using one of the following toll-free numbers: 833-816-1102 (U.S.), 866-605-3852 (Canada) or 412-317-0684 (International) by 8:45 a.m. (Eastern Time). Please ask to join the Packaging Corporation of America earnings call. A replay of the call will also be available from July 23, 2026, until August 6, 2026. To access the recording, please use one of the following toll-free numbers: 855-669-9658 (U.S. and Canada) or 412-317-0088 (International). The replay Access Code is: 9358134. This call will also be webcast and accessible at PCA’s website at www.packagingcorp.com. Please go to the Investor Relations tab to access the call. PCA is the third largest producer of containerboard products and a leading producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America. PCA operates ten paper mills and 90 corrugated products plants and related facilities. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260622579009/en/ Contacts Barbara SessionsPackaging Corporation of AmericaINVESTOR RELATIONS: (877) 454-2509PCA Web Site: www.packagingcorp.com

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Amcor (AMCR). Shares have lost about 5.7% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Amcor due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. Amcor delivered third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of 96 cents per share, up 6% year over year and in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Reported net sales climbed 77% from the year-ago quarter to $5.91 billion and beat the consensus mark of $5.69 billion. Results reflected the first full year of the Berry combination and continued integration progress, including $77 million of acquisition synergies in the quarter, along with cost and productivity actions that supported profitability. Profitability advanced meaningfully in the quarter as adjusted EBITDA rose to $892 million from $477 million in the prior-year quarter, translating to a 15.1% margin, up from 14.3% a year ago. Adjusted EBIT increased to $687 million from the prior-year quarter’s $384 million, with the adjusted EBIT margin increasing to 11.6%, highlighting better mix and execution across the combined platform. The top line was primarily shaped by acquisition-driven expansion. On a constant-currency basis, net sales grew 70% year over year, including $2.4 billion of acquired sales net of divestments, while raw material pass-through had no material impact on consolidated revenues. Underlying demand remained pressured. Amcor estimated that volumes were 1.5% lower than estimated combined volumes for the legacy Amcor and legacy Berry businesses in the prior-year quarter (excluding non-core and divested businesses). Price/mix was described as having no material impact on net sales. Global Flexible Packaging Solutions posted net sales of $3.25 billion, up 35% on a reported basis and 29% in constant currency. Adjusted EBIT increased to $452 million from the prior-year quarter’s $343 million, lifting segment profitability. The company cited higher volumes in pet food and protein, offset by softer demand in healthcare and other nutrition. Regional trends were also mixed, with volumes lower across North America and Europe and higher across Asia. The segment’...

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Packaging Corp. (PKG). Shares have lost about 0.6% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Packaging Corp. due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts. Packaging Corporation posted adjusted earnings of $2.40 per share in the first quarter of 2026, up 3.9% from $2.31 a year ago. The result beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.17 by 10.6%. Net sales rose 10.6% year over year to $2.37 billion but missed the consensus mark of $2.41 billion by 1.9%. Favorable pricing and mix, along with lower fiber costs, supported adjusted results, though special items weighed on reported profitability. Lower-than-expected earnings from the recently acquired Greif business also impacted sales. The Grief operations generated a loss of 6 cents per share during the quarter. PKG’s Packaging segment remained the primary growth engine. Segment sales increased 11.1% year over year to $2.19 billion in the quarter, reflecting stronger top-line momentum relative to the consolidated growth rate. Adjusted operating profit for the segment was $316.5 million compared with $284 million in the prior-year quarter. The Paper segment delivered more modest expansion, with sales of $159.9 million compared with $154.2 million a year ago. Adjusted operating profit for the segment was $33 million compared with $36 million in the prior year quarter. Despite the double-digit sales increase, profitability metrics showed mixed movement on a reported basis. Gross profit was $453 million compared with $455 million in the prior-year quarter, while cost of sales climbed to $1.91 billion year-over-year from $1.69 billion. The gross margin came in at 19.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with 21.2% in the prior year quarter. Below the gross line, selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $180.3 million from $161.4 million, while other expenses, net, increased to $21.3 million from $13.0 million. A key swing factor between reported and adjusted performance was special items recorded during the quarter. Special items totaled $44.3 million after tax.The largest item was $53.3 million of ch...

Ball Corporation BALL posted first-quarter 2026 comparable earnings of 94 cents per share, up 22.1% year over year and above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 85 cents by 10.6%. Higher volumes in North and Central America and EMEA, and favorable price/mix across the beverage can footprint helped offset higher costs. On a reported basis, the company’s earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were 77 cents compared with the prior-year quarter’s 64 cents. Revenues rose 16.3% from the year-ago quarter to $3.60 billion, topping the consensus mark of $3.27 billion by 10.1%. Global aluminum packaging shipments inched up 0.8% year over year. Ball Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Ball Corporation Quote Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased 18.6% to $2.96 billion. The gross profit totaled $646 million, up 7% from the year-ago quarter. The gross margin was 17.9%, a contraction from the prior-year quarter’s 19.5%. Selling, general and administrative expense was $150 million, a 0.7% increase year over year. Comparable segment operating earnings were $387 million, 10% higher than the prior-year quarter’s $352 million. Segment operating margin was 10.7% compared with 11.4% in the year-ago quarter. The Beverage Packaging North and Central America segment’s revenues increased 21.4% year over year on higher volume and price/mix, mainly due to higher aluminum prices. We had projected sales of $1.51 billion. Operating earnings amounted to $205 million, up 2.5% year over year. Higher volume and favorable price/mix helped offset the impact of higher costs. Our estimate for the segment's operating earnings was $187 million. Sales in the Beverage Packaging EMEA segment were $1.11 billion, up 16% year over year. The reported figure beat our estimate of $983 million. The upside was attributed to stronger shipments and currency translation, and contributions from the acquired Benepack business. Operating earnings were $134 million, marking 20.7% year-over-year growth. The figure came in higher than our projected figure of $90.9 million. The Beverage Packaging South America segment’s revenues rose 7.5% year over year to $585 million, driven by higher prices, primarily attributable to higher aluminum prices, partially offset by lower volume. Our projection for the segment’s sales was $580.6 million. Operating earnings were $67 million...

Amcor plc AMCR has delivered third-quarter fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of 96 cents per share, up 6% year over year and in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Reported net sales climbed 77% from the year-ago quarter to $5.91 billion and beat the consensus mark of $5.69 billion. Results reflected the first full year of the Berry combination and continued integration progress, including $77 million of acquisition synergies in the quarter, along with cost and productivity actions that supported profitability. Amcor PLC price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Amcor PLC Quote Profitability advanced meaningfully in the quarter as adjusted EBITDA rose to $892 million from $477 million in the prior-year quarter, translating to a 15.1% margin, up from 14.3% a year ago. Adjusted EBIT increased to $687 million from the prior-year quarter’s $384 million, with the adjusted EBIT margin increasing to 11.6%, highlighting better mix and execution across the combined platform. The top line was primarily shaped by acquisition-driven expansion. On a constant-currency basis, net sales grew 70% year over year, including $2.4 billion of acquired sales net of divestments, while raw material pass-through had no material impact on consolidated revenues. Underlying demand remained pressured. Amcor estimated that volumes were 1.5% lower than estimated combined volumes for the legacy Amcor and legacy Berry businesses in the prior-year quarter (excluding non-core and divested businesses). Price/mix was described as having no material impact on net sales. Global Flexible Packaging Solutions posted net sales of $3.25 billion, up 35% on a reported basis and 29% in constant currency. Our sales projection for the Global Flexible Packaging Solutions segment was $3.4 billion. Adjusted EBIT increased to $452 million from the prior-year quarter’s $343 million, lifting segment profitability. The company cited higher volumes in pet food and protein, offset by softer demand in healthcare and other nutrition. Regional trends were also mixed, with volumes lower across North America and Europe and higher across Asia. The segment’s profit improvement reflected integration benefits, productivity and cost performance, partly offset by the volume backdrop. Global Rigid Packaging Solutions generated net sales of $2.66 billion, up 187% year over year on a reported basis and 174% in constant currency, again...

Shares of AptarGroup, Inc. ATR have dipped 1% since posting first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.19 per share on Thursday. Adjusted earnings declined 8% from $1.30 a year ago on a less favorable mix and pharma-related headwinds. However, the bottom line topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15. Quarterly sales rose 10.8% year over year to $983 million and beat the consensus mark of $964 million by 2%. AptarGroup, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | AptarGroup, Inc. Quote Pharma segment sales increased 7.1% year over year to $439 million. The reported figure missed our estimate of $454 million. The reported gain was aided by currency and a small acquisition contribution, while core sales slipped 1% on tougher comparisons in the prescription business. Within Pharma, prescription core sales declined 10% as dispensing systems tied to emergency medicine were pressured by destocking. Offsetting this, consumer healthcare core sales increased 4% on nasal decongestant and eye-care solutions, while injectables delivered 20% core growth. The Pharma segment posted adjusted EBITDA of $146 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $142 million. We predicted adjusted EBITDA of $140 million for the segment. The Beauty segment’s sales advanced 19% year over year to $364 million. The reported figure beat our estimate of $324 million. Core sales grew 3% as demand improved across fragrance dispensing and select personal care applications, with acquisitions and currency providing additional lift. Profitability in Beauty was softer despite sales growth. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $40 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $37 million. We predicted adjusted EBITDA of $34.5 million for the segment. The Closures segment’s sales increased 5% to $181 million. The reported figure beat our estimate of $177 million. While product volumes improved, core sales were flat because results were weighed down by the pass-through of lower resin pricing. Margins were notably weaker in the segment. Adjusted EBITDA fell to $23.6 million compared with the prior-year quarter’s $27 million, driven by maintenance issues and temporary plant closures tied to extreme weather in North America, as well as certain investment write-offs. We predicted the segment’s adjusted EBITDA to be $28 million. On a reported basis, diluted earnings per share were $1.12 compared with $1.17 in th...

Amcor Plc AMCR is scheduled to report third-quarter fiscal 2026 results on May 6, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AMCR’s fiscal third-quarter revenues is pegged at $5.70 billion, indicating a 70.9% surge from the year-ago reported figure. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at 96 cents per share. The consensus estimate indicates growth of 6.7% from the year-ago quarter's actual. The estimate has moved down 3% in the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Amcor’s earnings met the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, beat in one and missed in one, the average negative surprise being 0.29%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Amcor this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. AMCR’s Earnings ESP: The Earnings ESP for Amcor is -0.95%. Amcor’s Zacks Rank: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Amcor’s total volume had been bearing the brunt of weak consumer demand across its key markets due to the inflationary environment. Customers have also been lowering their inventory, which has impacted demand. Nonetheless, Amcor is expected to have gained from the rise in e-commerce activities worldwide. We expect 3.7% growth in volumes in the fiscal third quarter. Overall price/mix benefits are expected to be a positive 1.6% for the quarter and currency impacts are likely to have added another 3.5%. Amcor has been facing intermittent supply shortages and price volatility of certain resins and raw materials because of market dynamics and higher rates of inflation impacting other costs. The impacts of this are expected to be reflected in the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings results. We expect volume for the Global Flexible Packaging Solutions segment’s fiscal third quarter to be 3.6%. The price/mix is expected to be 1.7% and 3%, respectively. Our sales projection for the Global Flexible Packaging Solutions segment is pegged at $3.4 billion, indicating 30.5% year-over-year growth. Our model estimates a 4% jump in volumes f...

Smurfit Westrock Plc SW has posted adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026, down 51.5% from the year-ago period. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 36 cents. Net revenues of $7.71 billion inched up 0.7% year over year but missed the consensus estimate of $7.76 billion. Smurfit Westrock PLC price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Smurfit Westrock PLC Quote Smurfit Westrock reported operating profit of $253 million, down 54.2% year over year. The company’s cost of sales [SM1.1]increased 6% to $6.4 billion from the year-ago period. The gross profit fell 19.6% year over year to $1.3 billion. Adjusted EBITDA declined to $1.08 billion from $1.25 billion a year ago, and the adjusted EBITDA margin contracted to 14% from 16.4%. Adverse weather events were a meaningful drag on quarterly net income and adjusted EBITDA, centered in the North American business. In North America, net revenues totaled $4.5 billion, down 3.6% year over year. While adjusted EBITDA was down 23.9% year over year to $597 million. Corrugated volumes were down 7.4% on a days-adjusted basis, underscoring the near-term pressure on the region that remains the company’s largest value creation opportunity. Europe, MEA & APAC segment delivered net revenues of $2.8 billion, which marked an increase from $2.6 billion in the year-ago quarter. The segment’s adjusted EBITDA came in at $421 million, up 8.2% year over year. Corrugated volumes increased 0.3% on a days-adjusted basis, supported by solid order books in converting operations and increased demand for containerboard, alongside implemented containerboard price increases across Europe. Net revenues of the LATAM segment were $0.5 billion, marking a year-over-year increase of 5.3%, aided by good volume growth in key markets. The adjusted EBITDA came in at $106 million compared with $115 million in the first quarter of 2025. The company also highlighted an acquisition in Ecuador that expands geographic reach and strengthens global paper integration. Cash and cash equivalents ended the quarter at $674 million, down from $892 million at the start of the period. Net cash provided by operating activities was $204 million in the quarter compared with the prior-year quarter’s $235 million. The company previously announced a quarterly dividend of 45.23 cents per share. For the second quarter of 2026, SW expects adjuste...

International Paper Company IP posted adjusted operating earnings of 15 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents by 16.7%. The figure declined 11.8% from 17 cents a year ago. Including one-time items, the company reported earnings of 14 cents per share against a loss of 28 cents in the year-ago quarter. Net sales were $5.97 billion, up 13.4% year over year, but below the consensus mark of $6.05 billion by 1.2%. International Paper Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | International Paper Company Quote Cost of products sold increased 11.5% year over year to $4.24 billion in the quarter. Gross profit rose 18% year over year to $1.73 billion. The gross margin came in at 28.9% compared with the year-ago quarter’s 27.7%. Selling and administrative costs were $510 million, which increased 4.7% from $487 million in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted operating income in the quarter was $188 million, 11% higher than $169 million in the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted operating margin contracted to 3.1% from 3.2% in the year-ago quarter. Packaging Solutions North America: The segment’s sales were $3.63 billion, down 2.1% from the prior-year figure. Our projection for the segment’s sales was $3.61 billion. The segment reported an operating profit of $248 million compared with an operating profit of $142 million in the prior-year quarter. Our projection for the segment was $304 million. The segment witnessed a sequential increase in the cost of products sold due to higher operating costs affected by winter storm impacts. Input costs rose due to higher natural gas costs and utility costs driven by the winter storm. Profitability, however, improved on a year-over-year basis. Packaging Solutions EMEA: The segment’s sales were $2.32 billion, up from the last-year figure of $1.55 billion. Our expectation for the segment’s sales was $2.39 billion. The segment reported an operating loss of $51 million against the prior-year quarter’s operating profit of $46 million. Our projection for the segment was a loss of $46 million. The segment’s results were impacted by higher energy costs. The company had earlier announced plans to separate its PS North America and PS EMEA operations into two independent, publicly traded companies. The transaction is intended to create two scaled regional leaders in packaging solutions, e...

Avery Dennison Corporation AVY has posted adjusted earnings of $2.47 per share for the first quarter of 2026, rising 7.4% from the year-ago period and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.41. Revenues came in at $2.298 billion, growing 7% year over year and surpassing the consensus mark of $2.271 billion by 1.2%. The quarter featured modest organic growth and steady profitability. The company gained from volume-led performance and continued cost management. Sales advanced 2.3% excluding currency, as a 4.7% foreign-currency headwind weighed on reported growth. Organic sales increased 1.1%, while acquisitions were a 1.2% drag on the quarter’s growth bridge. Our model expected organic sales to inch up 0.2%, and acquisitions to have a positive impact of 1%. Avery Dennison Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Avery Dennison Corporation Quote Gross profit was $664.8 million, up from $621.5 million a year ago, with the gross margin essentially steady at 28.9%. Operating income was $271.9 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 6.8%. The operating margin came in at 11.8% for the quarter compared with the prior-year quarter’s 11.9%. Adjusted EBITDA was $376.5 million, which marked a year-over-year increase of 6.8%. The adjusted EBITDA margin came in at 16.4%, flat with the first quarter of 2025. Materials Group delivered reported sales of $1.65 billion, up 11.4% year over year. Sales rose 3.6% excluding currency and 1.9% organically. We estimated revenues of $1.56 billion for this segment. Mid-single-digit volume/mix growth was partly offset by deflation-related price reductions. The segment’s adjusted operating profit increased 10.4% year over year to $254 million. Our estimate was $237 million. Solutions Group sales were $649.2 million, down 2.8% year over year, with sales down 0.9% excluding currency and 0.9% organically. We estimated sales of $701 million for this segment. The company noted growth in higher-value categories, including Embelex and Vestcom, while Intelligent Labels and base categories were softer. The segment’s adjusted operating income dipped 14.2% year over year at $58.5 million. Our estimate was $65 million. AVY generated an adjusted free cash flow of $104.4 million in the quarter, a sharp improvement from a negative $53.1 million in the year-ago period. Capital returns remained active. The company returned $133 million t...

Packaging Corporation of America PKG posted adjusted earnings of $2.40 per share in the first quarter of 2026, up 3.9% from $2.31 a year ago. The result beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.17 by 10.6%. Net sales rose 10.6% year over year to $2.37 billion but missed the consensus mark of $2.41 billion by 1.9%. Favorable pricing and mix, along with lower fiber costs, supported adjusted results, though special items weighed on reported profitability. Lower-than-expected earnings from the recently acquired Greif Inc.GEF business also impacted sales. The Grief operations generated a loss of 6 cents per share during the quarter. Packaging Corporation of America price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Packaging Corporation of America Quote PKG’s Packaging segment remained the primary growth engine. Segment sales increased 11.1% year over year to $2.19 billion in the quarter, reflecting stronger top-line momentum relative to the consolidated growth rate. Our model predicted the segment’s sales to be $2.21 billion for the quarter. Adjusted operating profit for the segment was $316.5 million compared with $284 million in the prior-year quarter. The Paper segment delivered more modest expansion, with sales of $159.9 million compared with $154.2 million a year ago. We expected sales of $151 million for the Paper segment. Adjusted operating profit for the segment was $33 million compared with $36 million in the prior year quarter. Despite the double-digit sales increase, profitability metrics showed mixed movement on a reported basis. Gross profit was $453 million compared with $455 million in the prior-year quarter, while cost of sales climbed to $1.91 billion year-over-year from $1.69 billion. The gross margin came in at 19.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with 21.2% in the prior year quarter. Below the gross line, selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $180.3 million from $161.4 million, while other expenses, net, increased to $21.3 million from $13.0 million. A key swing factor between reported and adjusted performance was special items recorded during the quarter. Special items totaled $44.3 million after tax. The largest item was $53.3 million of charges tied to the announced discontinuation of the No. 2 machine and kraft pulping facilities at the Wallula, WA, containerboard mill. PKG recorded $3.4 million of acquisition and integration-relat...