Is PKG a good stock to buy?
Packaging Corporation of America · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026
- PT$279.00 +11.1%
- ConsensusBuy · 10
- Trendbullish
- MAs4 of 4
- Earnings in74d
- P/E30.9x
- RSI55
- Support-3.7%
- Resistance+0.6%
- Off 52w high-4.4%
- Volume0.5x
- Bollingerupper half
- News1.00
- FCF yield+3.1%
- Sector→ -0.7%
- 52w range$192–$263
- ATR+2.4%
- Off ATH-4.4%
- P/E vs own+13.4%
- P/E vs sector+51.9%
- Insiders-$3.01M
- MACD-0.69
Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.
Is Packaging Corporation of America a good stock to buy?
Packaging Corporation of America is strong on 1 of the 5 questions about the business. The price is high: 30.9 times its earnings, above its 3-year median of 23.9 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.
- Demand steady
- Advantage some edge
- Economics profits steady
- Execution mixed
- Fragility sturdy
- Price expensive
PKG sales growth revenue growth
+2%a year, for the last 3 yearsPackaging Corporation of America's sales grew 2% a year for 3 years, to $8.99B in fiscal 2025.
PKG analysts' forecast revenue estimates
+12%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the lastAnalysts expect Packaging Corporation of America's sales to grow 12% to $10.08B in fiscal 2026 (7 analysts).
PKG competitors
pretickt analysis+12%its sales in 12 months, on a year before
Packaging Corporation of America's sales grew 12% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Avery Dennison (+7%) and Smurfit Westrock (-1%), slower than Amcor (+37%) and Ball (+19%).
PKG sales by business revenue by segment
92%of its sales from PackagingPackaging brought Packaging Corporation of America 92% of its sales in fiscal 2025; Paper 7%.
PKG margin on each sale gross margin
21%left after making the productPackaging Corporation of America kept 21% of each sale after making the product in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; its competitors' median is 19%.
PKG cash generated free cash flow
$687Mcash left after investing, last 12 monthsPackaging Corporation of America generated $687M of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, about as much as its reported profit.
PKG earnings vs estimates
5 of 8quarters above the analysts' estimatePackaging Corporation of America beat the analysts' profit estimate in 5 of its last 8 quarters, the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
PKG insider selling
-$15Msold, net, by its executives in 12 monthsPackaging Corporation of America's executives and directors sold a net $15M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
PKG number of employees
+9%more people in a yearPackaging Corporation of America had 16,800 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 9% more than a year before.
PKG CEO pay
$16.99Mfor fiscal 2025, 68% of it in stock and optionsPackaging Corporation of America paid its CEO $16.99M for fiscal 2025, 68% of it in stock and options.
PKG financial health Altman Z-score
4.0Altman Z-score, safe above 3Packaging Corporation of America's Altman Z-score is 4.0 (Nov 13, 2026), above 3, where the safe zone starts.
PKG quality checks Piotroski score
5 of 9checks passedPackaging Corporation of America passes 5 of the 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; it misses on return on assets, long-term debt, the current ratio and gross margin.
PKG biggest customers
under 10%of sales from any one customerNo customer made 10% of Packaging Corporation of America's sales in fiscal 2025.
PKG in past recessions
pretickt analysis-9%its sales in the worst onePackaging Corporation of America's sales fell in each of the last 2 US recessions, by as much as 9% in fiscal 2009.
PKG price vs profit P/E ratio
30.9×a year's earningsPackaging Corporation of America's P/E ratio is 30.9 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 23.9.
PKG price vs competitors
pretickt analysis30.9×a year's earnings, against its competitorsInvestors pay 30.9 times Packaging Corporation of America's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Avery Dennison (20.3) and Amcor (18.8), less than for Smurfit Westrock (47.6) and Ball (33.2).
PKG analysts' target price target
+11%to their average targetAnalysts' average price target for Packaging Corporation of America is $279, 11% above the Nov 13, 2026 close of $251.02.
PKG growth priced in fair value
pretickt analysis+13%a year, for ten years, to be worth the priceAt $251.02 a share, Packaging Corporation of America's free cash flow must grow about 13% a year for ten years to be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).
What is Packaging Corporation of America's P/E ratio?
Packaging Corporation of America's P/E ratio is 30.9 (Nov 13, 2026), above its 3-year median of 23.9. Investors pay 30.9 times Packaging Corporation of America's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for Avery Dennison (20.3) and Amcor (18.8), less than for Smurfit Westrock (47.6) and Ball (33.2).
Who are Packaging Corporation of America's biggest competitors?
pretickt compares Packaging Corporation of America with Smurfit Westrock, Amcor, Ball and Avery Dennison. Packaging Corporation of America's sales grew 12% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, faster than Avery Dennison (+7%) and Smurfit Westrock (-1%), slower than Amcor (+37%) and Ball (+19%).
Are insiders selling Packaging Corporation of America stock?
Packaging Corporation of America's executives and directors sold a net $15M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.
How does Packaging Corporation of America make money?
Packaging brought Packaging Corporation of America 92% of its sales in fiscal 2025; Paper 7%.
How many employees does Packaging Corporation of America have?
Packaging Corporation of America had 16,800 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 9% more than a year before.
Who are Packaging Corporation of America's biggest customers?
No customer made 10% of Packaging Corporation of America's sales in fiscal 2025.
From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.