We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Packaging Corp (PKG) Q1 Earnings & Sales Top Estimates, Up Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.77 in first-quarter 2021, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47. The reported figure also increased 18% year over year. This upside was driven by higher volume, price and mix in packaging segment and lower annual outage costs. These were, however, partly offset by dismal volume and price and mix in the Paper segment, coupled with higher operating as well as higher freight and logistics expenses.
Including one-time items, earnings in the reported quarter came in at $1.75 per share compared with the prior-year quarter’s $1.49 per share.
Operational Update
Sales in the first quarter climbed 5.7% year over year to $1,807 million. The reported figure also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,738 million.
Cost of products sold was up 4.5% year over year to $1,404 million in the first quarter. Gross profit increased 10.7% year over year to $404 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses came in at $145 million compared with $146 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted total segment operating income grew 15.2% year over year to $242 million.
Packaging Corporation of America Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Packaging: Sales in the segment increased to $1,624 million from the $1,468 million recorded in the year-earlier period. Segmental income, excluding special items, came in at $260 million in the quarter compared with the $201 million witnessed in the prior-year quarter.
Printing Papers: This segment’s revenues fell 24% year over year to $165 million in the January–March quarter. The segment reported adjusted operating profit of $9.8 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $32.6 million.
Cash Position
The company had a cash balance of $1,133 million at the end of first-quarter 2021, up from the $913 million witnessed in the comparable period last year.
Outlook
Packaging Corporation expects the demand in its packaging segment to be strong in the second quarter. The company will continue to implement its proposed price-rise actions across the segment in response to cost inflation. It also sees an increase in the average export prices during the current quarter. Packaging Corporation anticipates flat volumes with higher average price and mix in its paper segment this quarter.
Management projects higher planned outage expenses in the June-end quarter compared with the March-end quarter level. Also, it expects escalating freight, logistics, operating and converting costs. However, energy costs are likely to improve owing to a seasonally milder weather.
Price Performance
The company’s stock has gained 45.7% in the past year compared with the 44.3% rally of the industry.
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
Packaging Corporation currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Dover has a projected earnings growth rate of 21.8% for 2021. Over the past year, the company’s shares have gained 54.3%.
Caterpillar has an estimated earnings growth rate of 25.7% for the ongoing year. The company’s shares have rallied 99.7% in the past year.
Pentair has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.6% for 2021. The stock has surged 86% in a year’s time.
Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana
If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027.
After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%
You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.
Image: Bigstock
Packaging Corp (PKG) Q1 Earnings & Sales Top Estimates, Up Y/Y
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG - Free Report) reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.77 in first-quarter 2021, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.47. The reported figure also increased 18% year over year. This upside was driven by higher volume, price and mix in packaging segment and lower annual outage costs. These were, however, partly offset by dismal volume and price and mix in the Paper segment, coupled with higher operating as well as higher freight and logistics expenses.
Including one-time items, earnings in the reported quarter came in at $1.75 per share compared with the prior-year quarter’s $1.49 per share.
Operational Update
Sales in the first quarter climbed 5.7% year over year to $1,807 million. The reported figure also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,738 million.
Cost of products sold was up 4.5% year over year to $1,404 million in the first quarter. Gross profit increased 10.7% year over year to $404 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses came in at $145 million compared with $146 million in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted total segment operating income grew 15.2% year over year to $242 million.
Packaging Corporation of America Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Packaging Corporation of America price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Packaging Corporation of America Quote
Segmental Performance
Packaging: Sales in the segment increased to $1,624 million from the $1,468 million recorded in the year-earlier period. Segmental income, excluding special items, came in at $260 million in the quarter compared with the $201 million witnessed in the prior-year quarter.
Printing Papers: This segment’s revenues fell 24% year over year to $165 million in the January–March quarter. The segment reported adjusted operating profit of $9.8 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s $32.6 million.
Cash Position
The company had a cash balance of $1,133 million at the end of first-quarter 2021, up from the $913 million witnessed in the comparable period last year.
Outlook
Packaging Corporation expects the demand in its packaging segment to be strong in the second quarter. The company will continue to implement its proposed price-rise actions across the segment in response to cost inflation. It also sees an increase in the average export prices during the current quarter. Packaging Corporation anticipates flat volumes with higher average price and mix in its paper segment this quarter.
Management projects higher planned outage expenses in the June-end quarter compared with the March-end quarter level. Also, it expects escalating freight, logistics, operating and converting costs. However, energy costs are likely to improve owing to a seasonally milder weather.
Price Performance
The company’s stock has gained 45.7% in the past year compared with the 44.3% rally of the industry.
Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider
Packaging Corporation currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Better-ranked stocks in the Industrial Products sector include Dover Corporation (DOV - Free Report) , Caterpillar Inc. (CAT - Free Report) and Pentair plc (PNR - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Dover has a projected earnings growth rate of 21.8% for 2021. Over the past year, the company’s shares have gained 54.3%.
Caterpillar has an estimated earnings growth rate of 25.7% for the ongoing year. The company’s shares have rallied 99.7% in the past year.
Pentair has an expected earnings growth rate of 11.6% for 2021. The stock has surged 86% in a year’s time.
Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana
If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027.
After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%
You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.
Today, Download Marijuana Moneymakers FREE >>