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U.S. Packaging Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 19, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies22
  • 7D2.9%
  • 3M8.6%
  • 1Y-4.7%
  • YTD-0.1%

In the last week, the Packaging industry is up 2.9%, with International Paper up 5.4%. However, the industry is down 4.7% over the past year. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 24% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Packaging Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Fri, 19 Jun 2026US$148.4bUS$161.9bUS$3.0b17.6x49.4x0.9x
Sun, 17 May 2026US$134.6bUS$161.9bUS$3.0b17.3x44.8x0.8x
Tue, 14 Apr 2026US$149.5bUS$156.8bUS$3.4b20.2x44.4x1x
Thu, 12 Mar 2026US$159.4bUS$162.6bUS$3.8b19.4x42.5x1x
Sat, 07 Feb 2026US$171.3bUS$162.5bUS$3.3b22.7x51.9x1.1x
Mon, 05 Jan 2026US$156.6bUS$159.8bUS$5.7b20.8x27.7x1x
Wed, 03 Dec 2025US$149.0bUS$159.8bUS$5.7b19.3x26.4x0.9x
Fri, 31 Oct 2025US$150.9bUS$155.9bUS$5.9b20.3x25.6x1x
Sun, 28 Sep 2025US$159.9bUS$154.2bUS$5.0b21.9x31.8x1x
Tue, 26 Aug 2025US$167.4bUS$154.3bUS$5.1b22.3x32.8x1.1x
Thu, 24 Jul 2025US$175.9bUS$144.0bUS$6.0b28.1x29.1x1.2x
Sat, 21 Jun 2025US$162.7bUS$144.4bUS$6.0b25.4x27.1x1.1x
Mon, 19 May 2025US$169.9bUS$144.3bUS$6.0b26.9x28.3x1.2x
Wed, 16 Apr 2025US$159.2bUS$149.9bUS$6.3b22.1x25.3x1.1x
Fri, 14 Mar 2025US$170.1bUS$155.1bUS$6.2b22.1x27.5x1.1x
Sun, 09 Feb 2025US$181.4bUS$151.6bUS$6.5b22.1x28.1x1.2x
Tue, 07 Jan 2025US$170.4bUS$153.4bUS$5.9b21.9x28.7x1.1x
Thu, 05 Dec 2024US$187.6bUS$153.3bUS$5.9b24.3x31.6x1.2x
Sat, 02 Nov 2024US$180.6bUS$153.3bUS$6.2b23.4x29x1.2x
Mon, 30 Sep 2024US$181.5bUS$148.6bUS$7.0b26.6x25.9x1.2x
Wed, 28 Aug 2024US$175.0bUS$148.4bUS$7.0b22.2x25x1.2x
Fri, 26 Jul 2024US$170.0bUS$149.5bUS$6.8b23x24.9x1.1x
Sun, 23 Jun 2024US$155.8bUS$156.8bUS$6.1b22.2x25.7x1x
Tue, 21 May 2024US$161.1bUS$156.7bUS$6.1b22.5x26.3x1x
Thu, 18 Apr 2024US$148.5bUS$159.1bUS$4.4b17.9x33.5x0.9x
Sat, 16 Mar 2024US$152.3bUS$159.1bUS$4.4b18.2x34.3x1x
Mon, 12 Feb 2024US$139.6bUS$154.1bUS$4.6b17.2x30.4x0.9x
Wed, 10 Jan 2024US$142.1bUS$155.9bUS$5.4b15.6x26.3x0.9x
Fri, 08 Dec 2023US$138.3bUS$155.9bUS$5.4b15.2x25.6x0.9x
Sun, 05 Nov 2023US$130.7bUS$156.0bUS$5.6b15.8x23.5x0.8x
Tue, 03 Oct 2023US$131.2bUS$159.5bUS$7.0b13.1x18.6x0.8x
Thu, 31 Aug 2023US$135.5bUS$159.8bUS$7.1b13.7x19.1x0.8x
Sat, 29 Jul 2023US$137.7bUS$161.8bUS$7.2b14x19.1x0.9x
Mon, 26 Jun 2023US$129.3bUS$168.2bUS$7.9b12.2x16.4x0.8x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.4x


Total Market Cap: US$129.3bTotal Earnings: US$7.9bTotal Revenue: US$168.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Packaging Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 29.2x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Packaging industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 49.4x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 29.2x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 1.0x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Packaging industry have declined 28% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues have remained mostly flat.
  • This means that although sales have remained flat, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Materials industry?

US Market1.65%
Materials1.70%
Packaging2.89%
Metal and Glass Containers3.19%
Paper Packaging2.75%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Paper Packaging industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 43.3x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 28.3%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 14.9% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Metal and Glass Containers industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 22.6x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Paper Packaging industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 28% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 15% per year.
  • In contrast, the Metal and Glass Containers industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 15% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
IP International PaperUS$36.825.4%
+US$990.2m		-20.2%PS0.8x
SW Smurfit WestrockUS$44.203.5%
+US$791.0m		4.3%PE60.9x
AMCR AmcorUS$41.082.9%
+US$536.1m		-9.2%PE28x
CCK Crown HoldingsUS$101.544.0%
+US$427.6m		-1.0%PE15.6x
PKG Packaging Corporation of AmericaUS$229.022.1%
+US$409.1m		23.0%PE27.5x

Latest News

ATR
US$120.32
AptarGroup
7D
3.2%
1Y
-19.6%
Analysis Article • 16h

AptarGroup (ATR) Stock Could Be 25.5% Undervalued on Its Drug Delivery Growth Narrative

Why AptarGroup Stock Is Back On Investor Radars AptarGroup (ATR) has drawn interest after recent share price moves, with the stock gaining about 6% over the past month while still showing a decline over the past year. For investors tracking AptarGroup as a packaging and drug delivery supplier, those mixed return figures may prompt a closer look at how its current valuation lines up with recent business performance and market expectations. See our latest analysis for AptarGroup. With the share...
AVY
US$158.68
Avery Dennison
7D
-0.04%
1Y
-8.8%
Analysis Article • Jun 18

Avery Dennison (AVY) Stock Could Be 20.3% Undervalued After Q1 Earnings Beat

Avery Dennison (AVY) entered the spotlight after reporting first quarter revenue and adjusted earnings per share above analyst estimates, prompting investors to reassess the stock following its weaker performance relative to the broader market. See our latest analysis for Avery Dennison. At a latest share price of $159.55, Avery Dennison has seen its 7 day share price return of 2.23% offer a brief rebound, while the year to date share price return is down 12.55% and the 1 year total...
SW
US$44.20
Smurfit Westrock
7D
3.5%
1Y
4.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 17

SW: LSE Delisting And NYSE Focus Will Drive Future Upside

Analysts have nudged their price target on Smurfit Westrock slightly lower to about $53.46 from roughly $53.68. This reflects updated views on fair value, discount rate, profit margins and future P/E assumptions.
BALL
US$57.72
Ball
7D
2.4%
1Y
3.4%
Narrative Update • Jun 17

BALL: Tighter Can Supply And 2026 Cash Returns Should Support Upside

For Ball, the analyst price target edges slightly lower to about $70.79, as analysts factor in modestly softer revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, while also pointing to tighter beverage can supply and supportive industry demand as key offsets. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Ball clusters around a mix of cautious tweaks to price targets and more upbeat views on the company’s volume outlook, especially in beverage cans.
AMCR
US$41.08
Amcor
7D
2.9%
1Y
-9.2%
IP
US$36.82
International Paper
7D
5.4%
1Y
-20.2%
Narrative Update • Jun 17

IP: Packaging Expansion And Mixed Sector Backdrop Will Shape Turnaround Prospects

International Paper's updated analyst price target has been trimmed by several firms in recent weeks. Cuts of $3 to $8 reflect analyst views that recent earnings and sector data warrant slightly more conservative expectations, while still recognizing the company's upgraded ratings from some research houses.
PKG
US$229.02
Packaging Corporation of America
7D
2.1%
1Y
23.0%
Narrative Update • Jun 17

PKG: Cost Pressures And Execution Risks Will Weigh On Stock Price

For Packaging Corporation of America, the updated analyst price target framework reflects a modest fair value move from about $182.47 to $184.62, with analysts pointing to sticky price hikes, tighter supply conditions, and improving demand as key supports for revenue growth, margin assumptions, and pricing power. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Packaging Corporation of America highlights a mix of optimism around pricing and demand, alongside a series of more cautious adjustments that keep risk firmly on the table for investors watching the stock.
AMBP
US$4.34
Ardagh Metal Packaging
7D
6.9%
1Y
5.1%
Narrative Update • Jun 11

AMBP: Revised Earnings Framework Should Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have lowered their average price target for Ardagh Metal Packaging to about $4.50 from roughly $4.66, reflecting updated views on discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E assumptions following recent mixed target revisions from Citi, BofA and UBS. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Ardagh Metal Packaging reflects mixed views, with some analysts slightly increasing price targets and others trimming them, which has resulted in a modestly lower average target.
JBDI
US$0.64
JBDI Holdings
7D
-10.4%
1Y
-39.9%
CCK
US$101.54
Crown Holdings
7D
4.0%
1Y
-1.0%
Narrative Update • Jun 03

CCK: Asia Beverage Can Expansion And Dividend Increases Will Drive Future Returns

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Crown Holdings to $125.00 from about $125.85, reflecting updated assumptions for slightly different revenue growth, profit margin, discount rate, and future P/E expectations. What's in the News JPMorgan upgraded Crown Holdings' stock rating from Neutral to Overweight, citing tighter supply and demand balances in the beverage can industry.
MGIH
US$1.51
Millennium Group International Holdings
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-6.2%