Ascent Group LLC Makes New $2.79 Million Investment in Packaging Corporation of America $PKG

Key Points

• Ascent Group LLC acquired a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) by purchasing 14,110 shares valued at approximately $2.79 million during the 1st quarter.
• Wall Street analysts have mixed ratings for PKG, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $215.40, influenced by various analyst reports that have adjusted their ratings and price targets.
• Packaging Corporation of America declared a quarterly dividend of $1.25 per share, which will be paid on October 15th, representing an annual yield of 2.3%.

Ascent Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 14,110 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $2,794,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America during the first quarter valued at about $2,127,000. Sowell Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Packaging Corporation of America during the first quarter valued at approximately $309,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 5.6% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 28,639 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $5,671,000 after acquiring an additional 1,531 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 718.0% in the 1st quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 10,086 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,997,000 after acquiring an additional 8,853 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First United Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Packaging Corporation of America in the 1st quarter worth approximately $289,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.78% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have issued reports on PKG. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the company from $245.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Monday, June 16th. Citigroup upped their price target on Packaging Corporation of America from $197.00 to $214.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Packaging Corporation of America from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Packaging Corporation of America from $239.00 to $238.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Packaging Corporation of America from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $215.40.

Packaging Corporation of America Stock Down 0.8%

PKG stock traded down $1.70 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $215.33. The stock had a trading volume of 471,233 shares, compared to its average volume of 850,349. Packaging Corporation of America has a 1-year low of $172.71 and a 1-year high of $250.82. The company has a fifty day moving average of $204.67 and a 200 day moving average of $196.72. The company has a current ratio of 3.54, a quick ratio of 2.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.49, a PEG ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.87.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The industrial products company reported $2.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.04. Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 20.08% and a net margin of 10.47%.The business had revenue of $2.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.18 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.20 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 2.800-2.800 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Packaging Corporation of America will post 10.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Packaging Corporation of America Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. Packaging Corporation of America's dividend payout ratio is 49.90%.

About Packaging Corporation of America

Packaging Corporation of America engages in the production of container products. It operates through the following segments: Packaging, Paper, and Corporate and Other. The Packaging segment offers a variety of corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers. The Paper segment manufactures and sells a range of papers, including communication-based papers, and pressure sensitive papers.