Zacks Industry Outlook Spotlights Brambles, Packaging Corporation, AptarGroup, Sealed Air, and Karat Packaging
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 28 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Industry Growth Drivers: The Containers - Paper and Packaging industry is poised for growth due to increasing e-commerce activities, stable demand from consumer markets, and a rising preference for sustainable packaging solutions.
Challenges and Strategies: Companies in the industry are facing higher raw material and labor costs, prompting them to implement pricing strategies and operational efficiencies to maintain margins.
Market Performance: The industry has underperformed compared to the broader market, with a significant decline over the past year, but it currently holds a favorable Zacks Industry Rank indicating potential for recovery.
Key Players to Watch: Notable companies like AptarGroup, Karat Packaging, Brambles, Packaging Corporation of America, and Sealed Air are highlighted for their innovative products and strategies aimed at capitalizing on market trends and consumer demands.
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Analyst Views on PKG
Wall Street analysts forecast PKG stock price to fall
8 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 245.080
Low
226.00
Averages
242.86
High
273.00
Current: 245.080
Low
226.00
Averages
242.86
High
273.00
About PKG
Packaging Corporation of America is a producer of containerboard products and a producer of uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper in North America. The Company operates eight mills and 86 corrugated products plants and related facilities. Its segments include Packaging, Paper and Corporate and Other. Its containerboard mills produce linerboard and corrugating medium, which are papers primarily used in the production of corrugated products. Its corrugated products manufacturing plants produce a variety of corrugated packaging products. In addition, it also produces packaging for meat, fresh fruit, and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. It manufactures and sells papers, including both commodity and specialty papers, which may have custom or specialized features, such as colors, coatings, high brightness, and recycled content. Its papers consist of communication papers, including cut-size office papers, and printing and converting papers.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Form 144: Packaging Corp of America (PKG.US) Executive Plans to Sell $6.53 Million in Common Stock
Stock Sale Announcement: Thomas A. Hassfurther intends to sell 26,450 shares of Packaging Corp of America (PKG.US) on February 13, with a market value of approximately $6.53 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Hassfurther has reduced his shareholding in Packaging Corp by 12,129 shares since February 5, 2026, with a total value of around $2.8 million.
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- Major Index Performance: Following Tuesday's close, futures for major benchmark indices rose, with the Dow Jones up 0.04%, S&P 500 up 0.30%, and Nasdaq 100 up 0.74%, reflecting optimism about upcoming economic data and potential growth.
- Stock Movements: Seagate Technology Holdings surged 10.02% after reporting better-than-expected earnings and strong guidance, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the storage solutions market, which may attract more investor interest.
- Economic Growth Forecast: LPL Financial's Chief Economist Jeffrey Roach projects a 2.5% real growth for the U.S. economy in 2026, emphasizing that productivity gains will be crucial for economic expansion, providing investors with confidence in future market conditions.
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- Packaging Corp's Weak Results: Packaging Corp of America (NYSE:PKG) reported fourth-quarter results that fell short of expectations, projecting first-quarter GAAP EPS of $2.20, below the market estimate of $2.26, leading to a 2.1% drop in shares to $218.99 in after-hours trading, indicating investor concerns about its future outlook.
- Tesla Earnings Outlook: Analysts expect Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) to post earnings of 45 cents per share on revenue of $24.78 billion after the market closes, with shares increasing 0.4% to $432.49 in after-hours trading, demonstrating market confidence in its ongoing growth.
- Starbucks Earnings Forecast: Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:SBUX) is projected to report earnings of 59 cents per share and revenue of $9.73 billion, with shares slipping 0.1% to $95.70 in after-hours trading, yet the market remains cautiously optimistic about its performance.
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Packaging Corporation Reports Q4 2025 Earnings Miss
- Earnings Miss: Packaging Corporation's Q4 2025 Non-GAAP EPS of $2.32 fell short by $0.09, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth Weakness: Despite a 9.8% year-over-year revenue increase to $2.36 billion, the figure missed expectations by $80 million, reflecting soft market demand and intensified competition.
- Annual Performance Overview: The full-year net income for 2025 was $774 million, or $8.58 per share, while excluding special items, net income was $888 million, or $9.84 per share, highlighting earnings volatility influenced by special items.
- Stock Price Reaction: Following the earnings report, shares fell 1.62% in after-hours trading, indicating a negative market reaction to the results and prompting investors to reassess the company's future growth potential.
See More
Packaging Corporation Reports Q4 2025 Net Income of $102 Million
- Financial Performance: In Q4 2025, Packaging Corporation reported a net income of $102 million, or $1.13 per share, despite a $1.32 decline from Q4 2024, indicating resilience in profitability amidst challenges.
- Sales Growth: The company achieved net sales of $2.4 billion in Q4 2025, a 14.3% increase from $2.1 billion in Q4 2024, reflecting sustained demand and market share growth in the packaging sector.
- Impact of Special Items: Excluding special items, diluted EPS was $2.32, down $0.15 year-over-year, primarily due to lower production and sales volumes along with rising operating costs, highlighting the cost pressures faced by the company.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates Q1 2026 earnings of $2.20 per share, facing seasonal slowdowns and rising costs, yet remains optimistic about increased daily production and price improvements in its packaging operations.
See More
PACKAGING CORP OF AMERICA PROJECTS Q1 EARNINGS OF $2.20 PER SHARE
- Company Overview: Packaging Corporation of America is set to report its Q1 earnings.
- Earnings Expectation: The expected earnings are projected to be $2.20 per share.
See More
Form 144: Packaging Corp of America (PKG.US) Executive Plans to Sell $6.53 Million in Common Stock
Stock Sale Announcement: Thomas A. Hassfurther intends to sell 26,450 shares of Packaging Corp of America (PKG.US) on February 13, with a market value of approximately $6.53 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Hassfurther has reduced his shareholding in Packaging Corp by 12,129 shares since February 5, 2026, with a total value of around $2.8 million.
See More
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Markets Eye Fed Meeting
- Fed Meeting Outlook: Markets anticipate the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged at Wednesday's meeting, with the CME Group's FedWatch tool indicating a 97.2% probability of no rate change in January, which could stabilize market sentiment and reduce investor uncertainty.
- Major Index Performance: Following Tuesday's close, futures for major benchmark indices rose, with the Dow Jones up 0.04%, S&P 500 up 0.30%, and Nasdaq 100 up 0.74%, reflecting optimism about upcoming economic data and potential growth.
- Stock Movements: Seagate Technology Holdings surged 10.02% after reporting better-than-expected earnings and strong guidance, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the storage solutions market, which may attract more investor interest.
- Economic Growth Forecast: LPL Financial's Chief Economist Jeffrey Roach projects a 2.5% real growth for the U.S. economy in 2026, emphasizing that productivity gains will be crucial for economic expansion, providing investors with confidence in future market conditions.
See More
U.S. Stock Futures Rise, Focus on Earnings from Microsoft and Others
- Microsoft Earnings Expectations: Wall Street anticipates Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) will report earnings of $3.97 per share and revenue of $80.27 billion after the market closes, with shares rising 0.4% to $482.50 in after-hours trading, reflecting investor optimism about its performance.
- Packaging Corp's Weak Results: Packaging Corp of America (NYSE:PKG) reported fourth-quarter results that fell short of expectations, projecting first-quarter GAAP EPS of $2.20, below the market estimate of $2.26, leading to a 2.1% drop in shares to $218.99 in after-hours trading, indicating investor concerns about its future outlook.
- Tesla Earnings Outlook: Analysts expect Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) to post earnings of 45 cents per share on revenue of $24.78 billion after the market closes, with shares increasing 0.4% to $432.49 in after-hours trading, demonstrating market confidence in its ongoing growth.
- Starbucks Earnings Forecast: Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ:SBUX) is projected to report earnings of 59 cents per share and revenue of $9.73 billion, with shares slipping 0.1% to $95.70 in after-hours trading, yet the market remains cautiously optimistic about its performance.
See More
Packaging Corporation Reports Q4 2025 Earnings Miss
- Earnings Miss: Packaging Corporation's Q4 2025 Non-GAAP EPS of $2.32 fell short by $0.09, indicating pressure on profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth Weakness: Despite a 9.8% year-over-year revenue increase to $2.36 billion, the figure missed expectations by $80 million, reflecting soft market demand and intensified competition.
- Annual Performance Overview: The full-year net income for 2025 was $774 million, or $8.58 per share, while excluding special items, net income was $888 million, or $9.84 per share, highlighting earnings volatility influenced by special items.
- Stock Price Reaction: Following the earnings report, shares fell 1.62% in after-hours trading, indicating a negative market reaction to the results and prompting investors to reassess the company's future growth potential.
See More
Packaging Corporation Reports Q4 2025 Net Income of $102 Million
- Financial Performance: In Q4 2025, Packaging Corporation reported a net income of $102 million, or $1.13 per share, despite a $1.32 decline from Q4 2024, indicating resilience in profitability amidst challenges.
- Sales Growth: The company achieved net sales of $2.4 billion in Q4 2025, a 14.3% increase from $2.1 billion in Q4 2024, reflecting sustained demand and market share growth in the packaging sector.
- Impact of Special Items: Excluding special items, diluted EPS was $2.32, down $0.15 year-over-year, primarily due to lower production and sales volumes along with rising operating costs, highlighting the cost pressures faced by the company.
- Future Outlook: The company anticipates Q1 2026 earnings of $2.20 per share, facing seasonal slowdowns and rising costs, yet remains optimistic about increased daily production and price improvements in its packaging operations.
See More
PACKAGING CORP OF AMERICA PROJECTS Q1 EARNINGS OF $2.20 PER SHARE
- Company Overview: Packaging Corporation of America is set to report its Q1 earnings.
- Earnings Expectation: The expected earnings are projected to be $2.20 per share.
See More
