Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) Earnings Call Transcripts

Packaging Corporation of America's Latest Earnings Call - Q3 FY2026

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG:US) reported net income of $262 million, or $2.93 per share, exceeding guidance of $2.91 per share. Revenue reached $2.6 billion, up from $2.3 billion in the same quarter last year, driven by strong price realization and contributions from the acquired Greif business. Management expects fourth quarter earnings of $2.81 per share, reflecting anticipated seasonal demand and pricing dynamics, despite higher costs due to maintenance outages and rising input prices.

Reported metrics

Guidance from management

Management expects fourth quarter earnings of $2.81 per share, reflecting seasonal demand and pricing dynamics, despite higher costs from maintenance outages and rising input prices. They forecast CapEx for the year to be between $865 million and $890 million.

What management said

So George, I'll give it to Mark after this. But in terms of timing, no, the -- we were a little favorable in 3Q to what we put out there last time, but that rolls into the 4Q, that's really kind of timing of amortization of expenses more than anything else. In terms of activities, Mark can maybe comment a little bit more on what we're doing in the 2 mills.

Well, Mike, let's put it this way. Our objective is profitable revenue growth. That can come in a number of different ways. Price is where is where our supreme focus is at the moment. So that's what's driving our results at the moment. And we had -- and as I mentioned before, we did have a couple of segments that were pretty large in that have been a little bit of a drag, but it has nothing to do with losing business...

What analysts pressed on

Analysts expressed concerns about volume momentum, particularly in light of pricing strategies. There were also questions regarding the impact of rising input costs on margins and the overall demand outlook for the upcoming quarters.

Main topics on the call

• Revenue Growth — Third quarter net sales increased to $2.6 billion, up from $2.3 billion in the prior year. Management noted, "We exceeded our guidance of $2.91 on the strength of price realization and a higher-than-expected contribution...
• Earnings Performance — Net income for the quarter was $262 million, or $2.93 per share, compared to $247 million, or $2.73 per share, in the prior year. Excluding special items, earnings improved by $0.31 per share year-over-year, indicating s...
• Cost Pressures — Management highlighted increased costs, stating, "We saw significant increases in recycled fiber, purchase power and chemical costs during the quarter, and we expect these input costs to continue to go up." This suggests...
• Guidance for Q4 — Management provided guidance for fourth quarter earnings of $2.81 per share, indicating a sequential decline from Q3. They noted, "We expect seasonally lower volume and slightly higher prices in the paper segment," refle...

Read the full Packaging Corporation of America transcript (Q3 FY2026) → Summary generated from the call transcript; every figure above is stated by management on the record.

Earnings Call History

EarningsCalls.dev has 32 Packaging Corporation of America earnings call transcripts on record, spanning January 30, 2020 to October 22, 2026. Based on this history, Packaging Corporation of America reports quarterly. The most recent call on file is dated October 22, 2026. The full list is below — each row opens the complete, free-to-read transcript.

Ticker

PKG

Exchange

NYSE

Country

US

Sector

Materials

Industry

Containers and Packaging

Calls on record

32

First call

January 30, 2020

Most recent

October 22, 2026

Reporting cadence

quarterly