Stock Analysis
Packaging Corp of AmericaPKG
P/E 30.39×· 5Y range 10.21–33.16×· top 3% of history
Sector: Basic Materials · Industry: Paperboard Containers & Boxes
AnalystsBuy16 analystsP/E 30.4× sits at the 97th percentile of its 5.086926762491444-year history.
Cash covers 13% of debt · Q2 2026.
PMP Verdict
Mixed fundamentals, expensive valuation
Strengths
- Financial Health80
- Quality80
Risks
- Valuation44
- Growth31
Mixed fundamentals at a demanding price.
Bull Case
- ✓Altman Z 3.3 — safe-zone balance sheet
- ✓Interest coverage 14.0× — debt well covered
What's happening with PKG
Profile
Strong financial health and earnings quality; growth, valuation and profitability lag behind.
How is each axis scored?
- Valuation44/100 · Weak
- P/E vs own history (97th pct)0/25
- FCF yield (3.5%)12/25
- P/S (2.2x)20/25
- EV/EBIT (24.0x)12/25
- Growth31/100 · Weak
- Revenue CAGR (3.8%)6/25
- Net income CAGR (-2.1%)0/25
- EPS CAGR 5Y (-0.7%)0/25
- Fwd implied growth (57.8%)25/25
- Profitability49/100 · Weak
- ROIC (9.7%)12/25
- ROE (14.8%)12/25
- Net margin (7.3%)13/25
- Operating margin (10.9%)12/25
- Financial Health80/100 · Strong
- Altman Z (3.32)25/25
- Current ratio (2.94)25/25
- Interest coverage (14.0x)25/25
- Net cash / debt (D/A 35%)5/25
- Quality80/100 · Strong
- Piotroski F (3/9)5/25
- Beneish M (-2.80)25/25
- FCF conversion (107%)25/25
- Margin stability (σ 2.1%)25/25
- Moat74/100 · Moderate
- ROIC >12% years (9/10 yrs)25/25
- Median gross margin (22.5%)6/25
- FCF-positive years (10/10 yrs)25/25
- Worst-year net margin (worst 6.9%)18/25
Risk Flags
- ⚠P/E 30.4× at top 3% of 5-year history
About Packaging Corp of America
Packaging Corp. Show more
of America is the third-largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the United States. It produces over 5 million tons of containerboard annually. The company's share of the domestic containerboard market is roughly 10%. PCA differentiates itself from larger competitors by focusing on smaller customers and operating with a high degree of flexibility.
Headquarters: LAKE FOREST, IL · Employees: 16,800 · Website ↗
Price History
Weekly Candlestick Chart — up to 5Y
Key Metrics
Financial snapshot · Tap any metric for its definition and grade
TTM Snapshot
trailing twelve months · YoYValuation
44D+P/E (TTM)30.4xC
Grade C: ExpensivePrice / TTM EPS (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 10.2x–33.2x · 97th pct
P/FCF27.9xB
Grade B: FairPrice / Free Cash Flow per share (Finnhub). Inverse of FCF yield — negative when FCF is negative · Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
FCF Yield3.5%C
Grade C: LowTTM (OCF − CapEx) / Market Cap — vs own 5Y history: 2.4%–7.0% · 39th pct · Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
P/S (TTM)2.21xB
Grade B: FairPrice / TTM Revenue (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 1.2x–2.6x · 81st pct
EV/EBIT24.0xC
Grade C: ExpensiveEnterprise value / TTM EBIT (D&A not in our data) — capital-structure neutral — vs own 5Y history: 8.3x–24.0x · highest in history
EV/Sales2.5xB
Grade B: FairEnterprise Value / TTM Revenue (Finnhub) — capital-structure neutral sales multiple
Forward P/E19.3xB
Grade B: FairPrice / next-year EPS estimate — shows whether the TTM multiple is rich or just front-loading growth
P/B Ratio4.51xC
Grade C: ExpensivePrice to Book Value. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
PEG Ratio2.43C
Grade C: ExpensiveFinnhub PEG — their P/E basis ÷ expected EPS growth. Suppressed when their P/E diverges >2× from our TTM P/E (different basis)
Dividend Yield2.17%A
Grade A: PaysTTM dividend yield (Finnhub) — annual dividends / price. None = no dividend; very high yield can signal distress
Payout Ratio64.8%C
Grade C: HighDividends / Net Income (Finnhub) — share of earnings paid out; >90% or negative = unsustainable
Elevated investment: Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
Profitability
49D+ROIC9.7%C
Grade C: AverageNOPAT (EBIT less ~21% tax) / invested capital (equity + debt − cash). Flagship quality metric — durable >15% signals a moat
ROE14.8%C
Grade C: AverageReturn on Equity. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
ROA6.4%C
Grade C: AverageReturn on Assets (Finnhub) — Net Income / Total Assets; how efficiently assets produce profit
Net Margin7.3%C
Grade C: AverageNet Income / Revenue
Operating Margin10.9%C
Grade C: AverageTTM EBIT / TTM Revenue
Gross Margin20.1%D
Grade D: LowGross Profit / Revenue
FCF Margin7.8%D
Grade D: LowFCF / Revenue · Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
True FCF Margin7.3%C
Grade C: AverageTTM (OCF − CapEx − SBC) / TTM Revenue — SBC treated as a real cost · Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
Growth
31DRevenue CAGR3.8%D
Grade D: LowCompound annual revenue growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
Net Income CAGR-2.1%D
Grade D: LowCompound annual net income growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
EPS CAGR (5Y)-0.7%D
Grade D: LowCompound annual EPS growth over up to 5Y of per-share earnings (own statements). Null when either endpoint EPS ≤ 0
Implied EPS Growth57.8%A
Grade A: HighAnalyst forward EPS (normalized basis) vs our GAAP TTM EPS — different bases, so extreme values usually mark cyclically depressed TTM earnings, not real growth
Dilution (5Y)-6.6%A
Grade A: BuybacksShare count change over 5Y
SBC / Net Income7.1%A
Grade A: LowStock-based comp/Net income. >30% = dilution risk
SBC / Revenue0.5%A
Grade A: LowTTM stock-based comp / TTM Revenue
Financial Health
80AAltman Z-Score3.32A
Grade A: SafeBankruptcy risk. >3 Safe, <1.8 Distress
Current Ratio2.94xA
Grade A: HighCurrent Assets/Liabilities
Quick Ratio1.77xA
Grade A: High(Current Assets − Inventory) / Current Liabilities (Finnhub) — stricter liquidity test, excludes inventory
Interest Coverage14.0xA
Grade A: StrongEBIT/Interest. >10 Strong
Debt Repayment5.1yC
Grade C: AverageYears to repay net debt via FCF · Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
Net Debt/EBIT3.7xC
Grade C: MedLeverage. <2x Low, >4x High
Debt/Equity0.94xA
Grade A: LowDebt / Equity: <1 Conservative, >2 Risky. Not meaningful with non-positive equity; shown as unavailable rather than low debt.
Cash / Debt0.13xD
Grade D: ThinCash covers how much of total debt. >1 = could repay all debt from cash
Quality
80APiotroski F-Score3/9D
Grade D: WeakFinancial strength 0–9. >7 Strong
Beneish M-Score-2.80A
Grade A: SafeEarnings manipulation risk. < -2.22 Safe
FCF Conversion107.3%A
Grade A: StrongFCF / Net Income · Elevated investment — CapEx = 54% of operating cash flow, weighing on reported FCF
Margin Stability2.1%A
Grade A: StableEBIT margin std deviation. Lower = stable
Capex / Revenue9.2%C
Grade C: AverageTTM CapEx / TTM Revenue — high % = capital-hungry business
Asset Turnover0.88xC
Grade C: AverageRevenue / Total Assets (Finnhub) — how efficiently the asset base generates sales
Insider Transactions
SEC Form 4 · 8 recordsP/S codes are the directional signal; grants, option exercises and tax withholding carry none. Form 4 doesn't flag 10b5-1 plans — scheduled sales may appear within open-market sells.
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shirley Donald R. Filed | Shirley Donald R. | SellOpen market sale | -12000 | |
Hassfurther Thomas A Filed | Hassfurther Thomas A | SellOpen market sale | -7063 | |
Hassfurther Thomas A Filed | Hassfurther Thomas A | SellOpen market sale | -8797 | |
Hassfurther Thomas A Filed | Hassfurther Thomas A | SellOpen market sale | -12531 | |
KOWLZAN MARK W Filed | KOWLZAN MARK W | SellOpen market sale | -9266 |
Show 3 more filingsShow fewer filings
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MENCOFF SAMUEL M Filed | MENCOFF SAMUEL M | Grant / award | +591 | |
Harman Donna A. Filed | Harman Donna A. | Grant / award | +591 | |
Farrington Duane C Filed | Farrington Duane C | Grant / award | +591 |
More metrics — Moat, Per Share, Balance Sheet, MarketHide additional metrics
Moat
74B+ROIC >12% Years9/10 yrsA
Grade A: DurableShare of completed fiscal years with ROIC > 12% — measures multi-year capital-return durability
Gross Margin (Med.)22.5%D
Grade D: WeakMedian annual gross margin across available fiscal years — pricing-power durability
FCF-Positive Years10/10 yrsA
Grade A: DurableShare of completed fiscal years with positive free cash flow
Net Margin Floor6.9%A
Grade A: DurableWeakest annual net margin across completed fiscal years — recession/downcycle resilience
Per Share
EPS (TTM)$7.76
Own TTM net income / shares — same earnings basis as P/E
Cash / Share$6.66
Cash & short-term investments per share (Finnhub)
Book Value / Share$52.32
Shareholders' equity per share (Finnhub). Negative = accumulated losses / heavy buybacks
Balance Sheet
Total Debt$4.40B
Total debt obligations (short + long term)
Cash & Equiv.$593.80M
Cash and short-term investments
Net Debt$3.81B
Total Debt minus Cash. Negative = Net Cash position
Total Equity$4.66B
Shareholders' equity (book value)
Asset / Liability1.73xC
Grade C: AdequateTotal Assets / Total Liabilities
Market
Market Cap$21.03B
Current Market Capitalization
Beta0.81B
Grade B: MarketPrice sensitivity vs the market (Finnhub) — 1.0 moves with market, >1.2 amplifies swings
How grades work: each metric is graded A–D against fixed thresholds (tap a row for the meaning). Card grades map the pillar score to A+–E — a card grade is that pillar's own score, not an average of the rows shown.
Financials as of Jun 2026 · Ratio snapshot Oct 17, 2026
Key Insights: Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
PKG is up 1.47% at the last close. Packaging Corp of America meets only 3 of 9 Piotroski F-Score criteria — a sign of weak underlying fundamentals. Altman Z-Score of 3.32 sits comfortably in the safe zone (≥ 2.99), indicating low bankruptcy risk.
- Beneish M-Score of -2.80 suggests a low likelihood of earnings manipulation.
- Takes ~5.1 years to repay net debt from free cash flow.
- The stock currently yields 2.2% in dividends.
See how PKG ranks on the Capex Tracker — top 50 capital spenders compared.
Recent Market Moves
See all PKG moves →| Date | Session | Price | Move | Z-Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21 | Regular | 239.14 | +2.74% | 2.14 |
Frequently Asked Questions about PKG
What is the current Packaging Corp of America (PKG) stock price?
PKG is trading at $236.00 at the last market close, up 1.47% on the session. PreMarketPrice tracks PKG pre-market, intraday and after-hours prices.
Is PKG stock a buy right now?
PreMarketPrice's quantitative model rates Packaging Corp of America's financial health at 80/100. This is a data-driven snapshot of fundamentals, not investment advice.
Is PKG stock overvalued?
Packaging Corp of America trades at a trailing P/E of 30.4 and our valuation score rates it 44/100 (higher = cheaper vs. its own history). See the Valuation History and Key Metrics sections for forward P/E, EV/EBITDA and PEG context.
When does Packaging Corp of America report earnings?
No confirmed earnings date is currently scheduled for PKG. The Earnings section lists recent reports and updates as dates are announced.
What sector does Packaging Corp of America operate in?
Packaging Corp of America operates in the Basic Materials sector, within the Paperboard Containers & Boxes industry. The Related Stocks section lists sector peers for comparison.
What does Packaging Corp of America do?
Packaging Corp.
About Packaging Corp of America (PKG) Stock
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) is a US-listed stock operating in the Basic Materials sector, specifically the Paperboard Containers & Boxes industry. As of the latest update, Packaging Corp of America is trading at $236.00, up 1.47% on the day with a market capitalization of $21.0 billion. The financial health score for PKG is 80/100, which indicates excellent financial strength based on profitability, leverage, liquidity, and growth metrics. This page provides real-time pre-market pricing, earnings calendar, financial health analysis, and valuation metrics for PKG stock.
PKG Stock Analysis & Key Metrics
On PreMarketPrice, you can track Packaging Corp of America (PKG) across multiple dimensions:
- Pre-market price & movement: Real-time PKG stock price with percentage change, updated continuously during pre-market and regular trading hours.
- Valuation & P/E history: Historical P/E, P/S, and P/B ratios for PKG with trend analysis and normalized valuation multiples.
- Financial statements: Revenue, net income, assets, liabilities, and equity for Packaging Corp of America across multiple reporting periods.
- Financial health score: A composite score of 80/100 based on Altman Z-Score, Piotroski F-Score, profitability, and leverage metrics for PKG.
- Sector peers: Compare PKG against 3 other basic materials stocks on key financial metrics.
Is PKG a Good Stock to Buy?
This page provides data-driven analysis to help you evaluate Packaging Corp of America (PKG) as an investment. The financial health score of 80/100 suggests excellent financial fundamentals. Valuation metrics show whether the stock is trading above or below its historical average.However, this is not financial advice — always do your own research before investing.
Data on this page is sourced from real-time market feeds, Polygon.io, and Finnhub.Packaging Corp of America (PKG) trades on NYSE/NASDAQ. Pre-market trading occurs 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET. Regular market hours are 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET.