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Research Alert: CFRA Lifts View On Shares Of Packaging Corporation Of America To Hold From Sell

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-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:

After Q1 earnings release, we raise our target price to $210 from $166, applying a 10.5x EV/EBITDA multiple to our 2026 EBITDA estimate, above PKG's five-year average of 9.73x. We lower our 2026 EPS estimate to $10.32 from $11.04 and maintain our 2027 EPS estimate at $11.72. PKG reported a mixed first quarter for 2026 with adjusted EPS of $2.40, above expectations. However, net sales for the quarter were $2.4B, falling short of the consensus view. The commercial performance in the legacy packaging business helped offset a quarterly loss from the newly acquired Greif operations and significant headwinds from higher freight costs. Demand for corrugated products was robust during the quarter, with the company's legacy business setting a new record for daily shipment volumes, which we view as a positive sign. Looking ahead, PKG anticipates continued solid demand in the second quarter and expects to realize the majority of the benefits from announced price increases in the third quarter.

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