With a market cap of $19 billion, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the third-largest producer of containerboard and a leading producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America. The company operates through two main segments: Packaging and Paper, offering a wide range of corrugated packaging products, commodity and specialty papers, and communication papers. Companies valued at more than $10 billion are generally considered “large-cap” stocks, and Packaging Corporation fits this criterion perf ...

Company Overview - International Paper Company (IP) is a leading producer of fiber-based packaging, pulp, and paper products, with a market cap of $24.5 billion [1] - The company offers a range of industrial packaging solutions, including containerboard, corrugated packaging, specialty papers, and pulp for hygiene and personal care items [1] Market Position - IP is classified as a "large-cap stock," highlighting its size, influence, and dominance in the packaging and containers industry [2] - The company has a strong reputation for innovation and sustainability, aligning with the increasing demand for eco-friendly products from customers and regulators [2] Stock Performance - IP shares have declined 23.1% from their 52-week high of $60.36, reached on November 25, 2024, and have underperformed compared to the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), which returned 14.7% over the same period [3] - Over the past 52 weeks, IP has declined 7.1%, significantly lagging behind XLY's 22.5% increase [4] - Year-to-date, IP shares are down 13.7%, while XLY has risen by 7.6% [4] Recent Earnings Report - Following its Q2 earnings release, IP shares dropped 12.9% on July 31 [5] - The company's revenue increased by 42.9% year-over-year to $6.8 billion, meeting consensus estimates, but its adjusted operating EPS of $0.20 fell short of analyst expectations by 47.4% [5] - A significant decline in margins due to cost headwinds, weaker demand in Europe, and increased depreciation and amortization expenses led to a 63.6% annual decline in adjusted operating earnings per share [5] - Free cash flow contracted 67.7% year-over-year to $54 million, raising investor concerns and contributing to the stock's selloff [5]

Company Overview - Avery Dennison Corporation, based in Mentor, Ohio, operates as a packaging company providing pressure-sensitive materials and various converted products, with a market cap of $12.9 billion [1][2] Stock Performance - The stock has declined 26.4% from its 52-week high of $224.38 reached on September 27, 2024, and has underperformed the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), which surged 14.3% over the same period [3] - Year-to-date, AVY stock has decreased by 11.8%, and over the past 52 weeks, it has dropped 21.2%, while XLY has increased by 7.2% and 24.8% respectively [4] - The stock has remained mostly below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages over the past year, indicating a bearish trend [4] Recent Financial Results - Following the release of mixed Q2 results on July 22, AVY stock prices gained 1.5%, but demand from apparel and general retail categories remained under pressure due to current tariff policies, leading to net sales of $2.2 billion, down 66 basis points year-over-year, missing expectations [5] - The adjusted EPS remained flat at $2.42, surpassing consensus estimates by 1.7% [6] Analyst Ratings - Among 13 analysts covering AVY stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $199.50, suggesting a 20.9% upside potential from current price levels [7]

Core Viewpoint - Ball Corporation (BALL) is a significant player in the aluminum packaging industry, with a market cap of $13.6 billion, and also provides aerospace technologies and services [1][2] Group 1: Company Overview - BALL is categorized as a large-cap stock due to its market capitalization exceeding $10 billion, highlighting its size and influence in the packaging and containers sector [2] - The company has a diversified portfolio that includes packaging and aerospace, which provides stability and synergies [2] - BALL holds a dominant global market share in aluminum beverage cans, benefiting from economies of scale and long-term customer relationships [2] Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q2, BALL reported revenue of $3.3 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 12.8%, and an adjusted EPS of $0.90, which is a 21.6% increase from the previous year [5] - Despite exceeding earnings expectations and raising fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS growth guidance to 12% to 15%, BALL's stock price fell by 5.8% following the earnings release [5] Group 3: Stock Performance - BALL's stock has experienced a decline of 27% from its 52-week high of $68.12, reached on October 1, 2024 [3] - Year-to-date, BALL shares have dipped 9.8%, and over the past 52 weeks, they have fallen by 25.8%, underperforming the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) [4] - The stock has been trading below its 200-day moving average since late October 2024 and below its 50-day moving average since early August [4] Group 4: Competitive Landscape - Crown Holdings, Inc. (CCK) has outperformed BALL, showing a year-to-date increase of 15.3% and a 3.1% return over the past 52 weeks [6]

LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) will hold a conference call on Thursday October 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss third quarter 2025 results. The conference call leader will be Mark Kowlzan. Third quarter earnings results will be released after the market closes on Wednesday October 22, 2025. To access the conference call, you may pre-register for the conference by navigating to https://dpregister.com/sreg/10195049/fe1b51233a. Once yo. ...

Core Insights - Transcontinental Inc. has announced the acquisition of two Canva Group businesses, Mirazed Inc. and Intergraphics Decal Limited, enhancing its position in in-store marketing [1][2] - The acquisition follows the earlier purchase of Middleton Group in June, indicating a strategic focus on expanding capabilities in the in-store marketing segment [1][3] - TC Transcontinental's in-store marketing activities generated over $200 million in revenue during the fiscal year ended October 27, 2024, showcasing significant growth [3] Company Overview - TC Transcontinental is a leader in flexible packaging in North America and retail services in Canada, and it is the largest printer in Canada [4] - The company employs approximately 7,600 individuals, primarily in Canada, the United States, and Latin America, and generated revenues of $2.8 billion in the fiscal year ended October 27, 2024 [6]

Core Insights - Karat Packaging Inc. reported record quarterly net sales and net income for the second quarter of 2025, demonstrating resilience amid supply chain disruptions and trade uncertainties [5][8][13] - The company successfully reduced its sourcing from China to 10% and is diversifying its supply chain by expanding operations in other Asian countries and Latin America [5][6] - Despite facing foreign currency headwinds, the company achieved a gross profit increase and maintained strong business trends heading into the third quarter [5][8][12] Financial Performance - Net sales for Q2 2025 increased by 10.1% to $124.0 million, up from $112.6 million in the prior-year quarter, driven by a $14.2 million increase in volume and product mix [6][8] - Gross profit rose by 13.1% to $49.1 million, with a gross margin improvement to 39.6% from 38.5% in the prior-year quarter [8][10] - Net income for Q2 2025 increased by 19.8% to $11.1 million, with a net income margin of 8.9% compared to 8.2% in the prior-year quarter [8][13] Operational Highlights - The new Chino warehouse is fully operational, enhancing logistics capabilities and enabling faster delivery times [5] - The company is experiencing sustained double-digit sales growth across all major markets, including California, with new business wins from large national chains expected to contribute in the latter half of 2025 [5][8] - Operating expenses for Q2 2025 were $32.6 million, a slight increase from $32.3 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to higher shipping costs and rent expenses [11][18] Guidance and Future Outlook - The company maintains its full-year guidance for 2025 on net sales, gross margin, and adjusted EBITDA margin, despite potential impacts from additional tariff changes [8][12] - For Q3 2025, net sales are expected to increase by high single-digit to low double-digit percentages compared to the prior-year quarter [8][12] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $17.7 million, up 12.8% from the prior-year quarter, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.3% [8][14]

Q2 2025 Highlights Hugues Simon, President and CEO, commented: "Second quarter performance was in line with our forecasts. On a consolidated basis, sequential improvement was underpinned by stronger volumes and selling prices, and lower transportation and energy costs. Packaging results were driven by the implementation of selling price increases and stable shipments. As expected, these were partially offset by higher operational costs per unit attributable to lower operating rates. Operational metrics at B ...

Core Insights - Sealed Air Corporation (SEE) reported adjusted earnings per share of 89 cents for Q2 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 72 cents, reflecting a 7% year-over-year improvement due to better operating leverage and business optimization [1][8] - Total sales for the quarter were $1.335 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.318 billion, but down 0.7% year over year, with pricing positively impacting sales by 0.5% and volumes declining by 1.8% [2][8] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was approximately $276.93 million, a 3% increase from the previous year, driven by lower operating costs and productivity benefits, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 21.9% [4][8] Financial Performance - The cost of sales remained flat at $929 million, while gross profit decreased by 2% to $406 million, leading to a gross margin contraction of 50 basis points to 30.4% [3] - Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses were reduced to $184 million, down 3.2% from $190 million in the prior year [3] - The Food segment reported net sales of $896 million, a slight increase of 0.3% year over year, while the Protective segment saw a decline in net sales to $439 million, down 2.7% [5][6] Segment Analysis - In the Food segment, adjusted EBITDA rose by 2.6% to around $210 million, supported by lower operating costs, while the Protective segment's adjusted EBITDA fell by 5% to $78 million due to unfavorable net price realization [6][9] - Currency fluctuations had a favorable impact of 1% on sales, while pricing negatively affected sales by 2% and volumes fell by 2% due to prior-year customer churn [7][8] Cash Flow and Balance Sheet - Cash flow from operating activities was approximately $168.5 million in the first half of 2025, a decrease from $313 million in the same period last year [10] - As of June 30, 2025, total debt stood at $4.34 billion, with $1.2 billion in available liquidity, including $354 million in cash and $830 million in undrawn credit facilities [11] Guidance and Market Performance - Sealed Air expects net sales for 2025 to be between $5.1 billion and $5.5 billion, indicating a potential 2% decline from 2024 sales of $5.39 billion [12] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be between $1.075 billion and $1.175 billion, with adjusted earnings per share forecasted at $2.90 to $3.30, compared to $3.14 in 2024 [12] - Over the past year, Sealed Air's shares have decreased by 16.8%, compared to an 11.2% decline in the industry [13]

Image source: The Motley Fool. Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President & Chief Executive Officer — Deon Stander Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer — Gregory S. Lovins Lovins said, "customer feedback and sentiment remains muted." Guidance assumes continued soft apparel volumes in the third quarter. TAKEAWAYS Adjusted Earnings per Share (EPS)-- Adjusted earnings per share was $2.42 in Q2 2025, up 5% sequentially and roughly flat year over year. Organic Sales-- Down 1% o ...