What is Zacks Research’s Forecast for PKG Q1 Earnings?

Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG) – Research analysts at Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Packaging Co. of America in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, February 11th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the industrial products company will earn $2.21 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $2.36. The consensus estimate for Packaging Co. of America’s current full-year earnings is $10.60 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Packaging Co. of America’s Q2 2025 earnings at $2.66 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $3.01 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $10.51 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.56 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $2.76 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $3.01 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $11.16 EPS.

Packaging Co. of America (NYSE:PKG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The industrial products company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.51 by ($0.04). Packaging Co. of America had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 19.67%.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on PKG. StockNews.com lowered Packaging Co. of America from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $265.00 price target (down from $282.00) on shares of Packaging Co. of America in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Packaging Co. of America from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $215.00 to $280.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 18th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Packaging Co. of America from $232.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Packaging Co. of America from $253.00 to $236.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Packaging Co. of America has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $233.00.

Packaging Co. of America Stock Performance

Packaging Co. of America stock opened at $212.01 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $19.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 2.95 and a quick ratio of 1.98. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $227.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $221.23. Packaging Co. of America has a 1-year low of $164.20 and a 1-year high of $250.82.

Institutional Trading of Packaging Co. of America

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PKG. MML Investors Services LLC increased its position in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 30.0% in the 4th quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 22,209 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $5,000,000 after purchasing an additional 5,123 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Packaging Co. of America by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 23,590 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $5,311,000 after purchasing an additional 416 shares in the last quarter. Natixis increased its holdings in Packaging Co. of America by 32.1% in the fourth quarter. Natixis now owns 56,267 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $12,667,000 after buying an additional 13,677 shares during the last quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S acquired a new stake in Packaging Co. of America in the fourth quarter valued at $1,227,000. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in Packaging Co. of America by 65.2% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 1,786 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $402,000 after buying an additional 705 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.78% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Packaging Co. of America

In other news, SVP Joseph Vaughn sold 2,300 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $244.89, for a total value of $563,247.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 9,197 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,252,253.33. This trade represents a 20.01 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Paul T. Stecko sold 10,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $244.91, for a total value of $2,571,555.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,881 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,175,045.71. The trade was a 54.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Packaging Co. of America Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th were paid a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 20th. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.36%. Packaging Co. of America’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 55.99%.

About Packaging Co. 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.