PACKAGING CORP Q4 ADJUSTED EPS REACHES USD 2.32, BELOW IBES ESTIMATE OF USD 2.41
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 27 2026
0mins
Should l Buy PKG?
Source: moomoo
Earnings Report: Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.32 for Q4, which is lower than the estimated EPS of $2.41 by Ibes.
Comparison to Estimates: The reported EPS indicates a decline in performance compared to market expectations, reflecting potential challenges faced by the company in the quarter.
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Analyst Views on PKG
Wall Street analysts forecast PKG stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for PKG is 242.86 USD with a low forecast of 226.00 USD and a high forecast of 273.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 231.910
Low
226.00
Averages
242.86
High
273.00
Current: 231.910
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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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