Zacks Research Brokers Boost Earnings Estimates for PKG

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q1 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a note issued to investors on Thursday, January 15th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the industrial products company will earn $2.38 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.34. Zacks Research 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 $2.57 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.35 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.85 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $11.14 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.61 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.91 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $3.54 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $12.26 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Packaging Corporation of America from $238.00 to $245.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Packaging Corporation of America from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $222.00 to $233.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Citigroup cut their price target on Packaging Corporation of America from $229.00 to $226.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Packaging Corporation of America currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $236.17.

Packaging Corporation of America Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PKG opened at $221.75 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $19.95 billion, a PE ratio of 22.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 0.88. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $204.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $205.75. Packaging Corporation of America has a one year low of $172.71 and a one year high of $242.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 2.00 and a current ratio of 3.16.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.73 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.83 by ($0.10). Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 19.72% and a net margin of 10.18%.The company had revenue of $2.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.29 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.65 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q4 2025 guidance at 2.400-2.400 EPS.

Packaging Corporation of America Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Monday, December 15th were given a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. Packaging Corporation of America’s dividend payout ratio is presently 50.56%.

Institutional Trading of Packaging Corporation of America

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its position in Packaging Corporation of America by 105.4% during the 3rd quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 115 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 72.2% during the second quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 136 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Trust Co. of Toledo NA OH acquired a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in Packaging Corporation of America by 40.4% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 198 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.78% of the company’s stock.

Key Packaging Corporation of America News

Here are the key news stories impacting Packaging Corporation of America this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised a few quarterly estimates — Q1 2026 to $2.38 from $2.34, Q3 2026 to $3.35 from $3.34, and Q3 2027 to $3.54 from $3.52 — signaling modest upside to some near-term quarters. Zacks Research note
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks left its rating at “Hold” and the consensus for the current full year remains ~ $10.44 EPS; overall revisions are small in magnitude, so the market reaction is muted (volume below average). This suggests limited catalyst from the note unless guidance or macro factors change. Zacks Research note
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed several estimates — Q2 2026 to $2.57 (from $2.67), Q1 2027 to $2.61 (from $2.63), Q2 2027 to $2.91 (from $2.94), Q4 2026 to $2.85 (from $2.86), FY2026 to $11.14 (from $11.22) and FY2027 to $12.26 (from $12.29). These downgrades slightly reduce multi-year EPS expectations and are the main reason investor sentiment is cautious. Zacks Research note

About Packaging Corporation of America

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.