Core Insights - Sonoco Products Company has been recognized on FORTUNE's World's Most Admired Companies™ List, ranking first in Innovation and overall, and third in the Packaging category [1][2] - The company also achieved second place in categories such as use of corporate assets, financial soundness, long-term investment, and global competitiveness [1] Company Recognition - Howard Coker, President and CEO of Sonoco, expressed pride in the company's top ranking in innovation, highlighting the belief that better packaging leads to better lives [2] - FORTUNE's list serves as a report card on corporate reputations, with ratings provided by executives, directors, and analysts based on critical success attributes [2] Leadership and Resilience - The companies at the top of the list demonstrate resilience that is designed rather than reactive, showcasing the ability to sustain trust and credibility over time [4] - These organizations exhibit discipline, adaptability, and leadership necessary for current performance while preparing for future challenges [4] Corporate Responsibility - Sonoco has also been included in Newsweek's 2026 list of America's Most Responsible Companies, which evaluates corporate responsibility across the ESG pillars: Environment, Social, and Corporate Governance [4] Company Overview - Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global leader in sustainable metal and fiber packaging, operating as a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with approximately 22,500 employees across 265 operations in 40 countries [5] - The company aims to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration to provide solutions that support a sustainable future [5]

Company Overview - Sealed Air Corporation provides packaging and protective solutions primarily in food safety and product protection markets, leveraging proprietary brands and automation technologies [3][7] - The company serves a diversified customer base, including food processors, e-commerce businesses, consumer goods companies, pharmaceutical firms, and industrial manufacturers globally [7] Financial Performance - As of February 13, 2026, Sealed Air's stock price was $41.93, with a market capitalization of $6.2 billion [2] - The company's revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) was $5.3 billion, and net income for the same period was $396.4 million [2] - Over the past year, Sealed Air's shares returned 26.3%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's return of 13.2% [5] Recent Developments - Kiltearn Partners LLP fully exited its position in Sealed Air, selling 335,500 shares in the fourth quarter, which previously accounted for 2.4% of its assets under management (AUM) [1][6] - Following this transaction, Kiltearn Partners now holds only 28 positions, with its top five holdings making up over 44% of its AUM [4] Sales Outlook - Sealed Air's third-quarter sales experienced a decline of 1% after adjusting for foreign-currency translation effects, and management anticipates a sales decrease of 2% to 3% for the year [5]

Core Viewpoint - Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) is identified as one of the best undervalued European stocks, with a Buy rating and a price target of $60 following its quarterly earnings report [1]. Financial Performance - Amcor reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.86, exceeding Truist's forecast of $0.79 and the Street average of $0.84 [1]. - The company generated $55 million in synergies, surpassing its target range of $50-55 million, primarily through G&A headcount reductions and procurement efficiencies [2]. Revenue Synergies - Following the merger with Berry, Amcor achieved over $100 million in annualized revenue synergies, an increase of over $30 million from the previous quarter [3]. Business Operations - Amcor operates in the packaging solutions sector for consumer and healthcare products, focusing on sustainable packaging in both flexible and rigid formats using various materials [3].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of stable income during market volatility, highlighting the value of consistent dividend payments from companies [1] Group 1: Dividend Aristocrats - Companies on the Dividend Aristocrats list are S&P 500 firms that have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, showcasing their ability to maintain and grow shareholder payouts [2] - The focus is on companies that not only pay dividends consistently but also exhibit growth in earnings and cash flow, supported by solid analyst coverage [3] Group 2: Stock Screening Methodology - A stock screening process was utilized to identify companies with high forward annual dividend yields, cash flow growth of at least 1% year-over-year, and EPS growth greater than 1% [6] - The screening criteria included a minimum of 12 analysts covering the stock, indicating greater confidence in the ratings, and a consensus rating of Moderate to Strong Buy [6] Group 3: Company Spotlight - Amcor Plc - Amcor Plc is highlighted as a leading Dividend Aristocrat, known for its flexible and rigid packaging solutions across various industries [8] - In its recent quarterly financials, Amcor reported a 68% year-over-year increase in sales to $5.4 billion and a 9% rise in net income to $177 million, with operating cash flow growing by 5.22% [9] - The company has a track record of increasing dividends for 27 consecutive years, currently offering a forward annual dividend of $2.60, resulting in a yield of just over 5% [9]

Core Viewpoint - UFP Industries, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share, reflecting a 3% increase from the previous year, marking the 14th consecutive year of dividend increases [1] Group 1: Dividend Announcement - The Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per share, payable on March 16, 2026, to shareholders of record on March 2, 2026 [1] - The dividend increase of 3% over the March 2025 dividend highlights the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders [1] - This marks the 14th consecutive year that UFP Industries has increased its dividend [1] Group 2: Company Overview - UFP Industries, Inc. is a holding company with subsidiaries including UFP Packaging, UFP Construction, and UFP Retail, focusing on value-added products for residential and commercial construction, packaging, and industrial applications [1] - The company was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia [1] - UFP Industries aims to deliver strong returns on investment through share price gains, cash dividends, and targeted share repurchases [1]

Core Insights - Notpla has partnered with Kwalitaria to supply seaweed-coated trays and containers to replace plastic packaging, supported by Conpax for logistics [1][2] - The initiative will be implemented across all 160 Kwalitaria outlets in the Netherlands, aiming to test the performance of Notpla's technology in high-volume quick-service restaurant settings [2] - Notpla recently secured €4 million ($4.66 million) in Horizon Europe funding to develop fully compostable coffee cups, furthering its commitment to plastic-free solutions [3] Group 1 - Notpla's seaweed-coated trays are fully free of plastic and microplastics, and can be composted at home [1] - The partnership with Kwalitaria is seen as a benchmark for plastic-free packaging in real-world quick-service restaurant environments [2] - Conpax will facilitate the distribution of the new trays across Kwalitaria's network [2] Group 2 - The funding from Horizon Europe will focus on developing disposable coffee cups that are completely home compostable and free from plastic coatings [3] - Imperial College London has collaborated with Notpla to implement seaweed-based packaging at its campus, aiming to reduce single-use plastics [3][4] - This initiative aligns with Imperial's Sustainable Imperial strategy, which addresses climate change and promotes new technologies [4]

Core Insights - Sonoco Products Company is a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, operating in 37 countries with approximately 22,500 employees [1] - The company is set to release its quarterly earnings on February 16, 2026, with an estimated EPS of $1.01 and projected revenue of around $1.76 billion [1][6] Governance and Leadership - Craig L. Nix has been appointed to Sonoco's Board of Directors, bringing extensive financial leadership experience as the CFO of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. [2][6] - This appointment aligns with Sonoco's commitment to enhancing its financial governance [2] Dividend and Shareholder Value - Sonoco has declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.53 per share, marking the 403rd consecutive quarter of dividend payments and the 100th year since 1925 of consistent dividends [3][6] - The dividend yield is approximately 4.1%, which is significantly higher than the S&P 500 Index yield, reflecting Sonoco's strong commitment to returning value to shareholders [3] Financial Metrics - The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of about 8.14, indicating a relatively low valuation compared to its earnings [4] - The price-to-sales ratio is approximately 0.83, suggesting the stock is trading below its annual sales per share [4] - The enterprise value to sales ratio stands at around 1.67, reflecting the company's total valuation in relation to its sales [4] - The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 15.18, providing insight into cash flow generation relative to valuation [5] - The earnings yield is about 12.28%, indicating the return generated from the company's earnings [5] - The debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.63, indicating a higher level of debt compared to equity [5] - The current ratio is around 0.92, suggesting potential challenges in covering short-term liabilities with short-term assets [5]

Core Insights - DCGpac has established a wholly owned subsidiary, DCGPAC UK, to expand its operations into the UK and European markets, marking its second international move after entering the UAE [1][2] - The new UK entity will serve as a regional operations hub focusing on sustainable packaging, leveraging manufacturing resources from India and an AI-driven procurement and supply chain system [2][4] - The company has secured its first major export contract with a UK-based multinational, with initial shipments expected to commence this month [3] Group 1 - The UK subsidiary is part of DCGpac's strategy to capitalize on potential benefits from upcoming India–UK and India–EU free trade agreements, positioning the UK as a gateway to Europe [3][4] - Dedicated teams have been assigned in the UK to manage daily operations and customer relationships, enhancing local engagement [4] - A partnership with UKHI has been established to focus on raw material development and circular packaging solutions, integrating various aspects of the supply chain [4][5] Group 2 - The collaboration with UKHI aims to combine expertise in circular and compostable materials with DCGpac's manufacturing capabilities and AI platforms, promoting sustainable packaging solutions for UK and European customers [5] - Recently, DCGpac opened a new facility in Noida, India, to increase its production capacity for sustainable packaging materials, supporting its international expansion efforts [5]

Core Viewpoint - Huhtamäki Oyj's Board of Directors has proposed several key items for discussion at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for April 29, 2026, including dividend payments, auditor re-elections, and share repurchase authorizations [1][2][4]. Dividend Proposal - The Board proposes an aggregate dividend of EUR 1.14 per share for the financial period ending December 31, 2025, to be paid in two installments [4]. - The first installment of EUR 0.57 per share is set for payment on May 11, 2026, to shareholders registered by May 4, 2026 [5]. - The second installment, also EUR 0.57 per share, is proposed for payment on October 8, 2026, to shareholders registered by October 1, 2026 [6]. Financial Position - The Company reports no significant changes in its financial position since the end of the financial year, indicating a good liquidity position and that the proposed dividend distribution does not jeopardize its ability to meet obligations [8]. Auditor and Sustainability Reporting Assurer - The Board proposes the re-election of KPMG Oy Ab as the Auditor for the financial year 2026, with Mr. Henrik Holmbom acting as the key audit partner [10]. - KPMG Oy Ab is also proposed to be re-elected as the Sustainability Reporting Assurer for the same financial year, with Mr. Henrik Holmbom as the key sustainability partner [13]. Share Repurchase Authorization - The Board seeks authorization to repurchase up to 10,776,038 of its own shares, not exceeding 10% of all shares, using non-restricted equity [15][16]. - The authorization will remain valid until the end of the next AGM or until June 30, 2027 [16]. Share Issuance Authorization - The Board proposes authorization to issue up to 10,000,000 new shares and transfer up to 4,000,000 treasury shares, representing approximately 9.3% and 3.7% of current shares, respectively [17][18]. - This authorization will also remain in effect until the end of the next AGM or until June 30, 2027 [18]. Company Overview - Huhtamäki is a leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, with a history of over 100 years and operations in 35 countries [19][20]. - The Company reported net sales of EUR 4.0 billion in 2025 and employs around 17,400 professionals [20].

Core Insights - Huhtamäki Oyj reported solid performance in 2025 despite adverse currency impacts, with net sales decreasing by 4% to EUR 3,960.2 million compared to EUR 4,126.3 million in 2024 [4][25] - The company experienced a comparable net sales growth of -1% for the year, with adjusted EBIT margin improving to 10.2% [13][27] - The Board of Directors proposed a dividend of EUR 1.14 per share, marking the 17th consecutive year of dividend growth [14][33] Financial Performance Q4 2025 - Net sales for Q4 2025 were EUR 980.5 million, down 7% from EUR 1,058.7 million in Q4 2024 [3][29] - Adjusted EBIT decreased to EUR 103.2 million, a 6% decline from EUR 110.3 million in Q4 2024, impacted by EUR 4.3 million from currency movements [18][20] - Reported EPS for Q4 was EUR 0.53, down 13% from EUR 0.61 in the previous year [4][21] Financial Performance 2025 - Total capital expenditure for 2025 was EUR 171.9 million, a 31% decrease from EUR 247.9 million in 2024 [4][30] - Free cash flow increased by 44% to EUR 311.2 million compared to EUR 215.8 million in 2024 [4][30] - The company’s net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio decreased to 1.9, indicating a stronger balance sheet [14] Business Segment Performance - In Q4 2025, the Foodservice Packaging segment saw a sales decline of 11%, while North America and Flexible Packaging segments decreased by 6% and 8% respectively [16][29] - Fiber Packaging was the only segment to show resilience, with a slight decrease of 1% in sales [16][29] - For the full year, Fiber Packaging achieved a 5% increase in sales, contrasting with declines in other segments [23][24] Strategic Initiatives - The company implemented a new operating model aimed at increasing speed of execution and accountability, which has positively impacted performance [10][12] - Huhtamäki focused on disciplined capital allocation, prioritizing investments in high-yielding segments [9][8] - The acquisition of Zellwin Farms in North America was part of the strategy to drive growth [8]