Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) Stock Price Expected to Rise, JPMorgan Chase & Co. Analyst Says

Key Points

• JPMorgan raised Packaging Corporation of America’s price target to $322 from $320 and maintained an “overweight” rating, implying roughly 30% upside from the reported $247.58 share price.
• PKG reported quarterly EPS of $3.04, exceeding the $2.93 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 12.5% year over year to approximately $2.6 billion. Analysts expect full-year EPS of $10.45.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and average price target of $272.14, though insider selling, cost pressures, maintenance outages, and a valuation near 32 times earnings remain risks.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $320.00 to $322.00 in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "overweight" rating on the industrial products company's stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s price target would suggest a potential upside of 30.06% from the company's current price.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on PKG. Bank of America cut their target price on Packaging Corporation of America from $280.00 to $260.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 11th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, October 12th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $292.00 to $289.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 5th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $246.00 to $245.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 25th. One 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Packaging Corporation of America currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $272.14.

Packaging Corporation of America Price Performance

PKG traded down $1.34 during trading on Friday, reaching $247.58. The company's stock had a trading volume of 168,959 shares, compared to its average volume of 802,411. The company has a market cap of $22.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.17, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.75. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $237.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $230.79. Packaging Corporation of America has a 1 year low of $191.50 and a 1 year high of $259.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 2.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 21st. The industrial products company reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.93 by $0.11. Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 19.63% and a net margin of 7.40%. The firm had revenue of $2.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.61 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.73 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 12.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Packaging Corporation of America will post 10.45 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, President Thomas A. Hassfurther sold 12,531 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The shares were 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Donald R. Shirley sold 12,000 shares of the business'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 completion of the sale, the vice president 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 disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 40,391 shares of company stock valued at $10,196,101. Company insiders own 1.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Packaging Corporation of America

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fiduciary Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Oslo Pensjonsforsikring AS purchased a new position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America during the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Packaging Corporation of America by 2,300.0% in the 1st quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $58,000. 89.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Packaging Corporation of America News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly earnings beat expectations: PKG reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $3.04, above the $2.93 consensus estimate and up from $2.73 a year earlier. Revenue increased 12.5% year over year to approximately $2.6 billion, supported by favorable price and product mix, higher shipments, and contributions from the Greif operations. Packaging Corporation of America Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Above-consensus fourth-quarter outlook: Management updated fourth-quarter 2026 EPS guidance to $2.81, slightly ahead of the $2.78 analyst consensus. Expected benefits from price increases and continued cost discipline support the constructive outlook. Packaging Corporation of America Reports Earnings Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support increased: Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $298 from $270 while maintaining a Buy rating, reinforcing expectations for further upside. Deutsche Bank Raises Packaging Corporation of America Price Target
• Neutral Sentiment: The Greif integration and resilient margins indicate profitable growth, but investors are also focused on execution and the company’s ability to sustain favorable pricing and mix. Packaging Corporation of America Signals Profitable Growth
• Negative Sentiment: Costs and valuation remain concerns: Freight and other cost pressures, along with planned maintenance outages, may limit near-term earnings gains. At roughly 32 times earnings and near its 52-week high, some analysts view PKG as expensive despite its strong operating performance. Packaging Corporation of America: A Good Company Isn't Always a Good Stock

Packaging Corporation of America Company Profile

Packaging Corporation of America NYSE: PKG is a manufacturer of corrugated packaging and containerboard products serving businesses primarily in the United States. Its products include shipping boxes, retail packaging, displays, protective packaging and specialty corrugated solutions used to transport and present a broad range of consumer and industrial goods.

The company also produces uncoated freesheet paper and related paper products for commercial printing, office use, publishing, converting and other applications.

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