Key facts, as of
As of October 8, 2026, Packaging Corp of America (PKG) trades at $227.25, up 7.9% over the past year. Its 52-week range runs from $191.50 to $259.98; the price is 12.6% below that high. It is 12.6% below its all-time high of $259.98, reached in August 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +276.7%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY). It sits 0.2% above its 200-day average of $226.86, the usual sign of a long-term uptrend. Its 30-day volatility is 19.0% annualized, which we rate medium risk. It has a trailing P/E of 29.9 and a dividend yield of 2.64%.
Cite: Portfolio Terminal, "Packaging Corp of America (PKG) stock analysis", 2026-10-08. https://portfolio-terminal.com/analyse/pkg
Where it trades today
trading 52% of the way up its 52-week range
How the price has moved
How far it is from its record
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) is 12.6% below its all-time high of $259.98, reached in August 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +276.7%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
What to weigh before acting
What Matters Now
- Packaging Corp of America should be monitored through the lens of its industry cycle, capital allocation, and relative positioning against listed peers.
- PKG trades at 29.9x earnings, well above the basic materials average of 14.0x, so the market is already pricing in above-consensus execution.
- Recent realized volatility sits near 19.0%, below the sector norm of 28.0%, which supports a steadier role inside a diversified portfolio.
- Relative performance versus LIN, APD, ECL matters here because leadership inside basic materials rarely stays static for long.
Portfolio Use Case
- PKG is more relevant for investors who want some income support alongside price appreciation, not just pure growth exposure.
- The beta profile suggests it can fit a quality or lower-volatility sleeve more naturally than a high-octane tactical basket.
- This page is most useful for deciding whether the stock deserves a permanent slot in the portfolio or just a place on the watchlist.
What Would Change the View
- A reset in earnings expectations or a faster peer catch-up could compress the premium valuation currently embedded in PKG.
- The view would need revisiting if peers such as LIN, APD, ECL start winning the marginal flow or posting cleaner operating momentum.
Methodology
- Price, market cap, beta, yield, and liquidity fields for PKG come from Yahoo Finance quote and summary data.
- 30-day volatility is calculated from recent daily returns and annualized using a 252-trading-day convention.
- Sector context uses stored benchmark averages for Basic Materials so each page compares the ticker against a stable peer baseline rather than against the whole market.
- Peer comparisons use the Portfolio Terminal coverage set and highlight nearby listed alternatives such as LIN, APD, ECL.
Sources
- Yahoo Finance quote dataopen →
Live quote, valuation, beta, yield, and volume fields used for PKG. Last refresh: Oct 8, 2026, 10:10 AM.
- Portfolio Terminal methodologyopen →
Explains how analytics, refresh cadence, and portfolio interpretation work across the product.
- Peer set and coverage context
Comparative context for this page is anchored around nearby tracked names such as LIN, APD, ECL.
What Packaging Corp of America does
Packaging Corporation of America manufactures and sells containerboard and uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper products in North America. The company operates through Packaging and Paper segments. The Packaging segment offers various linerboard and corrugated packaging products, such as conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods; multi-color boxes and displays that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations; and honeycomb protective packaging products, as well as packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. This segment sells its corrugated products through a direct…
Employees
16,800
Industry
Packaging & Containers
Headquarters
Lake Forest, United States
What analysts expect
PKG carries a buy consensus from 10 analysts, with an average price target of $258.80 versus $227.25 today (+13.9%). Targets are estimates and can move quickly after earnings.
Consensus aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Targets are estimates, not forecasts.
How the business is doing
PKG generated $9.53B in trailing revenue (14.7% year over year), with a 7.3% net margin, and $432.95M of free cash flow, against $3.81B of net debt.
The numbers, year by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Gross profit | Operating income | Net income | EPS | Free cash flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $8.99B | $1.89B | $1.26B | $774.10M | $8.61 | $728.60M |
| 2024 | $8.38B | $1.78B | $1.17B | $805.10M | $8.97 | $521.50M |
| 2023 | $7.80B | $1.70B | $1.12B | $765.20M | $8.52 | $845.40M |
| 2022 | $8.48B | $2.09B | $1.48B | $1.03B | $11.08 | $670.80M |
When it reports next
Estimates aggregated by Yahoo Finance. Dates move and estimates change until the report lands.
Which ETFs hold it
PKG is in 6 of the 30 ETFs we track. It weighs most in VYM: 0.08% of the fund, holding #202 of 603.
How it sits in basic materials
Commodity-driven sector including mining, chemicals, and construction materials.
The companies it competes with
PKG beside the basic materials names it is usually measured against.
What the chart is saying
Slipped under its 50-day average inside a longer uptrend.
weakening- Price is 5.9% below its 50-day average and 0.2% above its 200-day.
- RSI at 38 is neither stretched nor washed out.
- The nearest ceiling is $229.58 (+1.0%), the nearest floor $223.65 (-1.6%).
A description of the chart, not advice. Indicators describe what the price has done; none of them knows what it does next.
Questions people ask about it
Is PKG a good investment in 2026?
Packaging Corp of America trades at a P/E ratio of 29.9, with medium volatility (19.0% annualized). The stock is in a consolidation phase.
What is the risk level of PKG?
Based on 30-day volatility of 19.0%, PKG has MEDIUM risk. Beta of 0.77 indicates lower sensitivity to market movements than average.
Does PKG pay dividends?
Yes, Packaging Corp of America has a dividend yield of 2.64%.
How far is PKG from its all-time high?
Packaging Corp of America is 12.6% below its all-time high of $259.98, reached in August 2026. Over the 10 years to the end of September 2026, with dividends reinvested, it returned +276.7%, against +312.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY).
Which ETFs hold PKG?
6 of the 30 popular ETFs we track hold Packaging Corp of America. The largest weights: VYM (0.08%), VTV (0.08%), SPY (0.03%), IVV (0.03%) and VOO (0.03%). Measured on each issuer's full holdings file, dated August 31 to September 24, 2026.
How much of VOO is PKG?
0.03%, as of August 31, 2026: PKG is holding #384 of 505 in Vanguard's file for VOO. $1,000 in VOO puts about $0.31 in Packaging Corp of America.
What is the analyst price target for PKG?
The average analyst price target for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) is $258.80 based on 10 analyst estimates, about 13.9% above the current price of $227.25. The published range runs from $167.00 to $320.00.
How much revenue does PKG generate?
Packaging Corp of America reported $9.53B in trailing twelve-month revenue. Revenue growth is running at 14.7% year over year. Net margin sits at 7.3%. Figures are aggregated from company filings by Yahoo Finance and refresh on an hourly cadence.
Compare PKG with anything
Five years side by side: what $10,000 became, how far each fell, whether they move together.