Packaging Corp stock falls 1.73 percent as JPMorgan raises target

Published on 09/24/2026 at 21:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Packaging Corp stock carries JPMorgan's USD 320 target after a USD 8 increase on September 23, 2026. Second-quarter sales reached USD 2.490 billion, up 14.68 percent year over year.

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Packaging Corp (ISIN US6951561090) was trading at USD 236.81 on the NYSE on September 24, 2026 at 3:31 p.m. ET, down 1.73 percent. The move came as Yahoo Finance reported on September 23, 2026 that JPMorgan raised its price target from USD 312 to USD 320 and maintained an Overweight rating.

JPMorgan lifts the target

The USD 8 increase places JPMorgan's target 35.1 percent above the September 24 share price. That gap matters because the target revision came after PCA's latest quarterly figures, while the stock was trading 8.91 percent below its 52-week high of USD 259.98.

Sales rise as EPS beats

In the second quarter of 2026, Packaging Corporation of America generated net sales of USD 2.490 billion, up 14.68 percent from USD 2.171 billion a year earlier, according to ScanX. Adjusted EPS was USD 2.35, exceeding the USD 2.31 consensus by 1.73 percent, although GAAP EPS fell to USD 2.15 from USD 2.67 in the second quarter of 2025.

Third-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS guidance was USD 2.91 against a USD 2.94 analyst estimate. The contrast is clear: revenue growth accelerated through the Greif operations acquisition, while reported earnings remained below the prior-year level.

October results set the next date

Business Wire said the company will release third-quarter 2026 results after the market closes on October 21, 2026, followed by a conference call on October 22, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The next report will show whether higher packaging prices can offset freight, labor and maintenance costs.

Stock trades below yearly high

Packaging Corp stock stood at USD 236.81 on the NYSE on September 24, 2026 at 3:31 p.m. ET, with a market capitalization of USD 21,099,450,596. The 52-week range was USD 191.50 to USD 259.98.