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Packaging segment revenues are seen up 12.2%, while Paper segment faces volume declines despite price gains.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG - Free Report) is set to release first-quarter 2026 results on April 22, after the closing bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PKG’s first-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.41 billion, indicating 12.7% growth from the year-ago reported figure.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.17 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PKG’s first-quarter earnings has moved south in the past 60 days. The estimate indicates a year-over-year dip of 6.1%.
PKG’s Earnings Surprise History
Packaging Corp’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed in the other two, the average surprise being a negative 0.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What the Zacks Model Unveils for Packaging Corp
Our model does not predict an earnings beat for PKG this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you can see below.
You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: Packaging Corp has an Earnings ESP of -0.37%.
Zacks Rank: PKG currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped PKG’s Q1 Performance
Packaging Corp closed the acquisition of the containerboard business of Greif, Inc (GEF - Free Report) in September 2025. The Greif containerboard business includes two containerboard mills with approximately 800,000 tons of production capacity, and eight sheet feeder and corrugated plants located across the United States. The deal with Greif is expected to be accretive to the company’s earnings. This is likely to have aided the Packaging segment in the to-be-reported quarter.
Our model predicts the Packaging segment’s volume to rise 7.4% year over year. The price and mix impacts for the Packaging segment are expected to have been favorable at 4.8% for the quarter, per our model.
The estimate for the segment’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $2.21 billion, suggesting growth of 12.2% from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. Our model estimates the segment’s operating income to be $291 million, indicating growth of 4.6% from the prior-year reported figure.
In the Paper segment, prices and mix are expected to have increased 0.3% year over year. We expect volume to dip 2.2% year over year.
The estimate for the Paper segment’s revenues is pegged at $151 million for the March-end quarter, suggesting growth of 6.4% from the year-ago reported figure. The estimate for the segment’s operating income is $36.3 million, indicating 2% growth from the prior-year quarter’s actual.
Packaging Stock's Price Performance
Over the past year, PKG shares have gained 20.1% against the industry’s 0.8% decrease.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some companies with the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hubbell’s first-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.87 per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 10.6%. HUBB has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 2.8%.
Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) , slated to release second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on May 21, has an Earnings ESP of +6.24% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deere’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $5.80 per share, suggesting a year-over-year dip of 12.6%. DE has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 11.2%.
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Packaging Corp Ready to Report Q1 Earnings: Here's What to Expect
Key Takeaways
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG - Free Report) is set to release first-quarter 2026 results on April 22, after the closing bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PKG’s first-quarter revenues is pegged at $2.41 billion, indicating 12.7% growth from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.17 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PKG’s first-quarter earnings has moved south in the past 60 days. The estimate indicates a year-over-year dip of 6.1%.
PKG’s Earnings Surprise History
Packaging Corp’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed in the other two, the average surprise being a negative 0.3%.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for Packaging Corp
Our model does not predict an earnings beat for PKG this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you can see below.
You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Earnings ESP: Packaging Corp has an Earnings ESP of -0.37%.
Zacks Rank: PKG currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.
Factors Likely to Have Shaped PKG’s Q1 Performance
Packaging Corp closed the acquisition of the containerboard business of Greif, Inc (GEF - Free Report) in September 2025. The Greif containerboard business includes two containerboard mills with approximately 800,000 tons of production capacity, and eight sheet feeder and corrugated plants located across the United States. The deal with Greif is expected to be accretive to the company’s earnings. This is likely to have aided the Packaging segment in the to-be-reported quarter.
Our model predicts the Packaging segment’s volume to rise 7.4% year over year. The price and mix impacts for the Packaging segment are expected to have been favorable at 4.8% for the quarter, per our model.
The estimate for the segment’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $2.21 billion, suggesting growth of 12.2% from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. Our model estimates the segment’s operating income to be $291 million, indicating growth of 4.6% from the prior-year reported figure.
In the Paper segment, prices and mix are expected to have increased 0.3% year over year. We expect volume to dip 2.2% year over year.
The estimate for the Paper segment’s revenues is pegged at $151 million for the March-end quarter, suggesting growth of 6.4% from the year-ago reported figure. The estimate for the segment’s operating income is $36.3 million, indicating 2% growth from the prior-year quarter’s actual.
Packaging Stock's Price Performance
Over the past year, PKG shares have gained 20.1% against the industry’s 0.8% decrease.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
Here are some companies with the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.
Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB - Free Report) , slated to release first-quarter 2026 results on April 30, has an Earnings ESP of +1.27% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hubbell’s first-quarter 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.87 per share, suggesting a year-over-year rise of 10.6%. HUBB has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 2.8%.
Deere & Company (DE - Free Report) , slated to release second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on May 21, has an Earnings ESP of +6.24% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deere’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $5.80 per share, suggesting a year-over-year dip of 12.6%. DE has a trailing four-quarter average surprise of 11.2%.