Core Insights - Cascades Inc. has been recognized as one of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations for the seventh consecutive year, ranking 34th globally and third in the materials sector [1][3] Company Performance - The company improved its ranking from 59th in 2025 to 34th in 2026, reflecting its commitment to sustainability and effective business strategies [3] - Cascades generated significant revenue from products made from recycled or certified fibers, contributing to its sustainability performance [2] Industry Context - The Global 100 ranking, conducted by Corporate Knights, analyzed companies with over $1 billion in revenue, focusing on sustainable revenue and investments [2][9] - Among the Global 100 companies, approximately 60% of investments and revenues were classified as sustainable for 2026, compared to only 13% of investments and 17% of revenues across all large companies assessed [5] Future Commitments - The company plans to develop its fifth sustainable development plan for 2026–2030, aiming to enhance its sustainability commitments and reduce its environmental footprint [5]

Core Insights - Knoxcorp has acquired Pro-Pac Packaging's Australian and New Zealand businesses from McGrathNicol Restructuring, with the transaction expected to complete by early March 2026 for Australia and by January 30, 2026, for New Zealand [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition includes the Australian operations and assets, excluding the Perfection Packaging unit, which is winding down with closure scheduled for next month [1][2]. - The buyer for the Australian operations is Consolidated Packaging Australia, a subsidiary of Knoxcorp, while the New Zealand operations will be handled by Consolidated Packaging Limited, another subsidiary of Knoxcorp [1][2]. Group 2: Company Background - Knoxcorp, headquartered in Brisbane and founded by Jim Knox, has investments in operating businesses and property developments, previously owning Cospak, a packaging company sold in 2009 [3]. - The sale proceeds from Pro-Pac Packaging are not expected to generate a return for shareholders, as stated by McGrathNicol [3]. Group 3: Statements from Key Individuals - Rob Smith, a partner at McGrathNicol, expressed satisfaction with the sale, highlighting it as a positive outcome for Pro-Pac's customers, suppliers, and employees [4]. - Jim Knox stated the company is delighted with the acquisition and plans to invest significantly in machinery to enhance local manufacturing, which is crucial for customer supply chains [4].

Group 1 - The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) and Eroglu Global have finalized a contract to build a new carton and packaging factory in the Qantara West Industrial Zone with an investment of $175 million [1] - The factory will cover an area of 70,000 square meters and is expected to produce Tetra Pak units, carton boxes, and sheets, creating 2,000 direct jobs [1] - Half of the factory's output is planned for export markets, while the other half will supply the local market [1] Group 2 - SCZONE chairman Waleid Gamal El-Dien stated that the project strengthens the industrial supply chain and adds value to Egyptian products [2] - With the new factory, the Qantara West Industrial Zone will have a total of 52 projects across 3,537,100 square meters, reaching cumulative investments of $1.53 billion and offering 72,665 direct jobs [2] - Eroglu Global will become the largest industrial investor in the Qantara West Industrial Zone with this being their fourth project in the area [2] Group 3 - Eroglu Global, established in Türkiye in 1983, has a diversified portfolio that includes textiles, real estate, energy, furniture, shopping centers, and retail, operating in several countries including Egypt, Germany, the UK, and Romania [3] - In a separate development, Greif opened an Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) manufacturing facility in Dilovasi in 2023, indicating growth in Türkiye's packaging sector [3][4] - Specialty paper manufacturer Felix Schoeller opened a new Competence Center in Istanbul last year, further highlighting advancements in the packaging industry [4]

Company Performance - Shares of Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) have declined by approximately 6% over the past year [1] Industry Overview - The entire packaging sector is experiencing pressure due to weak demand and excess supply [1]

Core Viewpoint - Amcor plc will announce its fiscal 2026 second quarter and half year results on February 3, 2026, after the US market closes [1] Group 1: Financial Results Announcement - The results will cover the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2025 [1] - A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will take place at 5:30 PM US Eastern Standard Time on February 3, 2026 [2] - Access to the webcast and supporting materials will be available via the Investors section of Amcor's website [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Amcor is a global leader in responsible consumer packaging and dispensing solutions across various materials for nutrition, health, beauty, and wellness categories [3] - The company generates $23 billion in annualized sales from operations across over 400 locations in more than 40 countries, supported by a workforce of over 75,000 people [3] - Amcor focuses on product innovation and sustainability to address packaging challenges globally, producing flexible packaging, rigid packaging, cartons, and closures [3]

Core Viewpoint - Loews Corporation will report its fourth quarter 2025 financial results on February 9, 2026, and will provide earnings remarks from its CEO and CFO on the same date [1]. Group 1: Financial Reporting - The financial results for the fourth quarter of 2025 will be disclosed on February 9, 2026 [1]. - Earnings remarks will be available on the company's website, including commentary from CEO Ben Tisch and CFO Jane Wang [1]. Group 2: Company Overview - Loews Corporation operates in diversified sectors including insurance, energy, hospitality, and packaging [2]. - Additional information about the company can be found on its official website [2].

Core Insights - Upslope Capital Management aims to provide attractive, equity-like returns while reducing market risk and maintaining low correlation with traditional equity strategies [1] - The Fund achieved a return of +2.0% (net) in Q4 2025, outperforming the S&P Midcap 400 ETF and HFRX Equity Hedge Index, which returned +1.6% [1] - For the full year 2025, the Fund delivered a return of +14.8%, significantly higher than the +7.2% and +10.1% returns of the respective indexes [1] - The investment landscape is increasingly dynamic, with decisions driven by aggressive, thematic, and short-term strategies [1] - Identifying investment opportunities is straightforward, but returns remain uncertain due to the current economic environment [1] Company Insights - Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK) is a leading global producer of aluminum beverage cans (80% of sales) and transit packaging/equipment (20%) [3] - The company has a diversified geographic presence, with 60% of sales generated outside the United States and 34% from emerging and frontier markets [3] - As of January 16, 2026, Crown Holdings, Inc. stock closed at $104.24 per share, with a one-month return of 1.02% and a 52-week gain of 21.83% [2] - Crown Holdings, Inc. has a market capitalization of approximately $12.131 billion [2]

Core Viewpoint - iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) offers targeted exposure to U.S. companies in chemicals, metals and mining, packaging, and forest products, allowing investors to express views on upstream industrial inputs [1] Investment Strategy - The strategy tracks a market-cap-weighted basket of basic-materials equities, focusing on liquidity and sector breadth while acknowledging concentration and cyclicality [1] - Returns are linked to commodity price trends, capital-expenditure cycles, inventory restocking, and global manufacturing activity, with profitability sensitive to energy costs and currency fluctuations [1] Market Conditions - The fund is positioned to benefit during early-to-mid economic expansions when demand for raw inputs increases, serving as a satellite for inflation beta and a thematic tilt towards infrastructure and industrial upcycles [1] - It may be suitable for allocators using sector-rotation strategies or multi-asset managers seeking real-asset sensitivity within equities [1] Challenges - The fund may face challenges during late-cycle slowdowns and disinflationary phases, with a significant risk stemming from concentrated sector exposure that can exacerbate drawdowns when commodity prices decline [1]

Company Overview - Graphic Packaging Holding Company is a leading provider of fiber-based packaging solutions, focusing on sustainable and innovative packaging for food, beverage, and consumer goods sectors [6] - The company has a market capitalization of $4.51 billion and reported revenue of $8.61 billion with a net income of $511 million for the trailing twelve months [4] Recent Developments - On January 16, Howard Capital Management Group sold its entire holding of 1,069,223 shares in Graphic Packaging, with an estimated transaction value of $20.92 million [2] - Following this transaction, Graphic Packaging comprised 1.32% of the fund's reportable 13F assets [3] Financial Performance - As of January 16, shares of Graphic Packaging were priced at $15.28, reflecting a decline of 43.51% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by approximately 60 percentage points [3] - In the third quarter, packaging volumes decreased by 2% year over year, with sales slipping 1% to $2.19 billion, and adjusted EBITDA fell 11% year over year due to pricing pressure and cost inflation [7] Market Position and Strategy - Graphic Packaging offers a diverse range of products including coated paperboard, folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers, and also provides packaging machinery and support services [8] - The company serves a wide array of clients including consumer packaged goods companies, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice providers across multiple regions [8] Operational Challenges - The company is experiencing increased net leverage, which climbed to 3.9 times adjusted EBITDA from 3.0 times at the end of the previous year, attributed to heavy capital spending on long-term projects [9] - The current operational environment shows that consumer demand has stalled, leading to compressed margins and increased balance sheet risk [9]

Group 1 - Cascades Inc. will release its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 26, 2026, before market open [1] - A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 9:00 AM ET, accessible via phone or the company's website [1] - The company provides a replay option for the conference call, available until March 26, 2026 [1] Group 2 - Founded in 1964, Cascades specializes in sustainable packaging, hygiene, and recovery solutions [2] - The company employs approximately 9,500 people across 65 operating facilities in North America [2] - Cascades is committed to innovation and sustainability, driven by participative management and continuous research and development [2]