February 23, 2026 Introduction In the fast-moving world of global equity markets, few sectors offer the blend of industrial grit and high-margin sophistication found in the corrugated packaging industry. As of February 23, 2026, Packaging Corp of America (NYSE: PKG) has emerged as a standout performer, defying the "boring" label often attached to the materials [...]
As of February 23, 2026, International Paper (NYSE: IP) stands at a historic crossroads. Long considered the titan of the North American pulp and paper industry, the company is currently navigating the most aggressive structural transformation in its 128-year history. Under the relatively new leadership of CEO Andrew Silvernail, International Paper is pivoting from a [...]
The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning.
Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
In the global industrial landscape, few transformations have been as ambitious as the birth of Smurfit Westrock (NYSE: SW). Formed in July 2024 through the landmark merger of Europe’s Smurfit Kappa and America’s WestRock, the entity has rapidly ascended to become the world's largest listed packaging company. As of February 2026, Smurfit Westrock stands as [...]
Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.
Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.
Over the past six months, Packaging Corporation of America has been a great trade, beating the S&P 500 by 12.5%. Its stock price has climbed to $238.06, representing a healthy 21.1% increase. This run-up might have investors contemplating their next move.
As of February 5, 2026, the global packaging landscape has been fundamentally reshaped by the emergence of a single dominant force: Smurfit Westrock (NYSE: SW). Formed through the high-stakes merger of Europe’s Smurfit Kappa and America’s WestRock in mid-2024, the company has spent the last 18 months integrating two distinct corporate cultures and massive industrial [...]
Packaging Corporation of America’s fourth quarter results were met with a negative reaction from the market, as both revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share came in below Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the underperformance to higher operating and maintenance costs, as well as lower production and sales volumes in the legacy business. CEO Mark Kowlzan described the period as one of “challenging business conditions at various times,” emphasizing the impact of outages, integration expenses from the Greif acquisition, and unexpected freight and depreciation costs. Despite these setbacks, the company highlighted steady progress in integrating acquired assets and maintaining operational performance across its mills.
When Wall Street turns bearish on a stock, it’s worth paying attention.
These calls stand out because analysts rarely issue grim ratings on companies for fear their firms will lose out in other business lines such as M&A advisory.
Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, but sales rose 10.1% year on year to $2.36 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.32 per share was 3.9% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
Packaging Corporation of America currently trades at $212.17 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a middling return of 4%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 10.5% gain during that period.
Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG) and the best and worst performers in the industrial packaging industry.
Many investors pay attention to mid-cap stocks because they have established business models and expansive market opportunities.
However, their paths to becoming $100 billion corporations are ripe with competition, ranging from giants with vast resources to agile upstarts eager to disrupt the status quo.
Whether you see them or not, industrials businesses play a crucial part in our daily activities. But their prominence also brings high exposure to the ups and downs of economic cycles.
Luckily, the tide is turning in their favor as the industry’s 17.4% return over the past six months has topped the S&P 500 by 4.1 percentage points.
