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Research Analysts Offer Predictions for PKG Q3 Earnings

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Key Points

  • Zacks Research cut Packaging Corporation of America’s Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $2.91 from $3.07, matching the company’s Q3 guidance. Full-year EPS estimates stand at $10.48 for the current year and $10.40 for FY2026.
  • PKG’s latest quarter exceeded expectations, reporting $2.35 EPS versus the $2.31 consensus, while revenue reached $2.49 billion and increased 14.7% year over year.
  • Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $261.57, although recent analyst actions included both upgrades and downgrades.
  • Interested in Packaging Corporation of America? Here are five stocks we like better.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for Packaging Corporation of America in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, August 12th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the industrial products company will post earnings per share of $2.91 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $3.07. The consensus estimate for Packaging Corporation of America's current full-year earnings is $10.48 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Packaging Corporation of America's FY2026 earnings at $10.40 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $3.73 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $14.56 EPS.

Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.04. Packaging Corporation of America had a return on equity of 18.96% and a net margin of 7.25%.The business had revenue of $2.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.48 earnings per share. Packaging Corporation of America's revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Packaging Corporation of America has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 2.910-2.910 EPS.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup upped their target price 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. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $246.00 price objective (up from $245.00) on shares of Packaging Corporation of America in a research note on Thursday, July 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $225.00 to $256.00 in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Packaging Corporation of America from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Packaging Corporation of America from $272.00 to $271.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $261.57.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Packaging Corporation of America

Packaging Corporation of America Price Performance

NYSE PKG opened at $256.21 on Thursday. The company's 50 day moving average is $236.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $226.03. The company has a current ratio of 3.07, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market cap of $22.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.27, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.80. Packaging Corporation of America has a 12 month low of $191.50 and a 12 month high of $259.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Packaging Corporation of America

In related news, President Thomas A. Hassfurther sold 12,531 shares of Packaging Corporation of America stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.00, for a total transaction of $3,132,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president directly owned 218,751 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $54,687,750. The trade was a 5.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Mark W. Kowlzan sold 9,266 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $217.08, for a total transaction of $2,011,463.28. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 473,610 shares in the company, valued at $102,811,258.80. The trade was a 1.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 37,657 shares of company stock valued at $9,199,044 over the last ninety days. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. DV Equities LLC purchased a new position in Packaging Corporation of America during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 140.0% in the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 156 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA increased its stake in Packaging Corporation of America by 94.1% in the 4th quarter. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA now owns 165 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. Navalign LLC purchased a new stake in Packaging Corporation of America in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Packaging Corporation of America by 40.4% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 198 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.78% of the company's stock.

About Packaging Corporation of America

(Get Free Report)

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.

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Earnings History and Estimates for Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG)

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