Bank of America Cuts Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) Price Target to $260.00

Key Points

• Bank of America lowered Packaging Corporation of America’s price target from $280 to $260 while maintaining a “buy” rating, implying 10.45% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with a MarketBeat consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $264.14; other firms set targets ranging from $246 to $271.
• PCA slightly exceeded quarterly EPS expectations with $2.35 versus $2.31 consensus, while revenue rose 14.7% year over year to $2.49 billion. However, insiders sold 40,391 shares worth approximately $10.2 million during the last quarter.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by investment analysts at Bank of America from $280.00 to $260.00 in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "buy" rating on the industrial products company's stock. Bank of America's target price would suggest a potential upside of 10.45% from the company's previous close.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on PKG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Packaging Corporation of America from $269.00 to $271.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Packaging Corporation of America from $258.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 25th. Wells Fargo & Company restated an "equal weight" rating and set a $246.00 price target (up from $245.00) on shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $241.00 to $254.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Packaging Corporation of America has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $264.14.

Packaging Corporation of America Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE PKG traded up $2.98 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $235.39. The company's stock had a trading volume of 54,169 shares, compared to its average volume of 831,391. Packaging Corporation of America has a 12-month low of $191.50 and a 12-month high of $259.98. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $241.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $227.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.62, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 2.94 and a quick ratio of 1.86.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.31 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.49 billion. Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 7.25%.Packaging Corporation of America's revenue was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.48 earnings per share. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.910-2.910 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Packaging Corporation of America will post 10.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Packaging Corporation of America

In related news, President Thomas A. Hassfurther sold 12,531 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total value of $3,132,750.00. Following the sale, the president directly owned 218,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $54,687,750. The trade was a 5.42% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Donald R. Shirley sold 12,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.71, for a total transaction of $3,008,520.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 19,110 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,791,068.10. This trade represents a 38.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 40,391 shares of company stock valued at $10,196,101 in the last quarter. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Packaging Corporation of America

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Greenleaf Trust boosted its stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 1.7% in the second quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 2,705 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $645,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Packaging Corporation of America by 5.2% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,045 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $218,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the period. TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Packaging Corporation of America by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 1,929 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $398,000 after acquiring an additional 54 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 28.4% during the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 276 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in 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 Research raised its EPS forecasts across several future periods: Q4 2026 to $2.76 from $2.75, Q2 2027 to $2.98 from $2.97, Q3 2027 to $3.36 from $3.35, and Q4 2027 to $3.24 from $3.23. The firm also lifted its full-year 2027 estimate to $12.46 from $12.44 and full-year 2028 to $14.60 from $14.56. The broad-based increases suggest slightly improved expectations for PCA’s future profitability.
• Positive Sentiment: The higher forecasts imply earnings growth beyond the company’s current-year consensus estimate of $10.48 per share. If operating results meet or exceed these projections, stronger future earnings could help justify PKG’s premium valuation.
• Neutral Sentiment: PCA also presented at the Jefferies Global Industrials Conference. The provided transcript headline indicates investor outreach, but no specific new guidance, contract, or operating development was included in the available information. Packaging Corporation of America Presents at Jefferies Global Industrials Conference 2026 Transcript

Packaging Corporation of America Company Profile

Packaging Corporation of America NYSE: PKG manufactures and sells containerboard and corrugated packaging products. Its offerings include shipping boxes, retail displays, protective packaging and other custom-designed packaging solutions used by businesses in a range of industries.

The company also produces uncoated paper products, including communication papers, office papers and specialty papers. PCA serves customers primarily across the United States and operates a network of paper mills, corrugated products plants, design centers and related facilities.

Packaging Corporation of America was established in 1999 following the acquisition of Tenneco Packaging by an investor group and its subsequent separation from Tenneco Inc Mark W.

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