PKG

Based on Packaging Corporation of America's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

What does Packaging Corporation of America do?

PKG manufactures containerboard and corrugated packaging products for a wide range of industries, including food, beverage, and consumer goods. It also produces commodity and specialty papers through its Paper segment. The company sells primarily within the United States through direct sales teams and distribution partners.

Does PKG pay dividends?

Yes, PKG pays a regular dividend. The company's relatively stable cash generation from packaging operations supports consistent distributions. Investors should check PKG's investor relations page for the current dividend rate and payment schedule, as specific figures are not provided here.

When does PKG report earnings?

Packaging Corporation of America reports on a quarterly cadence, in line with standard US-listed company practice. For exact dates and the most recent results, refer to the company's investor relations page rather than relying on third-party estimates.

Is PKG a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates PKG as Below Average overall. The Risk and Valuation pillars are relative strengths, but a Weak Moat and Neutral Quality and Growth ratings temper the overall picture. Whether it fits a portfolio depends on individual goals — the full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is PKG overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for PKG is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. In a sector where valuations can stretch during demand cycles, a Good Valuation rating indicates relative reasonableness — though it should be considered alongside the Weak Moat profile.

How does PKG compare to its competitors?

PKG operates primarily in US corrugated and paper markets, while peers like International Paper compete at larger global scale and Amcor focuses on flexible plastics. Ball Corporation targets a different end market entirely with aluminum beverage cans. The UQS Score comparison for each competitor is available on their respective pages.

What is PKG's market cap bracket?

PKG is classified as a large-cap company, reflecting its significant scale within the US containerboard and packaging industry. Large-cap stocks generally offer greater liquidity and more established operating histories than smaller peers in the sector.

Who founded Packaging Corporation of America?

Packaging Corporation of America in its current form was incorporated in 2000, though the business traces roots to operations dating back to 1867. Detailed founding history is publicly available through the company's official disclosures and investor relations materials.

Is PKG a long-term quality investment?

As a long-term quality indicator, PKG's UQS profile is mixed. The Good Risk rating suggests financial stability, but the Weak Moat limits confidence in durable competitive advantages over time. Long-term investors focused on quality typically look for stronger moat and growth characteristics — the full analysis is available to Pro members.

What is the main competitive advantage of Packaging Corporation of America?

PKG's scale within the US corrugated market and its vertically integrated mill and converting operations provide some cost efficiency. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this as Weak, reflecting the broader challenge of building durable pricing power in a commodity-driven, capital-intensive packaging industry.

What sector does PKG belong to?

PKG is classified under the Consumer Cyclical sector. Packaging demand tends to track broader economic activity — particularly manufacturing output, retail volumes, and e-commerce growth — making the business sensitive to cyclical swings in consumer and industrial spending.

Packaging Corporation of America has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.

Packaging Corporation of America shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Packaging Corporation of America maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.

Packaging Corporation of America trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Packaging Corporation of America operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for PKG.

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Packaging Corporation of America is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Packaging Corporation of America's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Packaging Corporation of America is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.