As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the industrial packaging industry, including Crown Holdings (NYSE:CCK) and its peers.
Industrial packaging companies have built competitive advantages from economies of scale that lead to advantaged purchasing and capital investments that are difficult and expensive to replicate. Recently, eco-friendly packaging and conservation are driving customers preferences and innovation. For example, plastic is not as desirable a material as it once was. Despite being integral to consumer goods ranging from beer to toothpaste to laundry detergent, these companies are still at the whim of the macro, especially consumer health and consumer willingness to spend.
The 7 industrial packaging stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9%.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.3% on average since the latest earnings results.
Crown Holdings (NYSE:CCK)
Formerly Crown Cork & Seal, Crown Holdings (NYSE:CCK) produces packaging products for consumer marketing companies, including food, beverage, household, and industrial products.
Crown Holdings reported revenues of $3.13 billion, up 7.7% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but full-year EPS guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.
Timothy J. Donahue, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated "The Company continued its strong momentum during the fourth quarter to complete an excellent year. In 2025, the Company achieved record adjusted EBITDA of approximately $2.1 billion, an 8% increase over 2024. Over the past three years, Crown has increased adjusted EBITDA by 20%, supported by our culture of continuous improvement and focused capacity expansions. Solid performance throughout the global beverage can and the North American tinplate businesses in 2025 drove segment income expansion of over 8%, building on the strong growth of 6% and 7% delivered in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 3.4% since reporting and currently trades at $111.35.
Is now the time to buy Crown Holdings? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q4: Ball (NYSE:BALL)
Started with a $200 loan in 1880, Ball (NYSE:BLL) manufactures aluminum packaging for beverages, personal care, and household products as well as aerospace systems and other technologies.
Ball reported revenues of $3.35 billion, up 16.2% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.3%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Ball delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 18.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $67.36.
Is now the time to buy Ball? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q4: Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:PKG)
Founded in 1959, Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG) produces containerboard and corrugated packaging products as well as displays and package protection.
Packaging Corporation of America reported revenues of $2.36 billion, up 10.1% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
Packaging Corporation of America delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 10.2% since the results and currently trades at $246.34.
Read our full analysis of Packaging Corporation of America’s results here.
Silgan Holdings (NYSE:SLGN)
Established in 1987, Silgan Holdings (NYSE:SLGN) is a supplier of rigid packaging for consumer goods products, specializing in metal containers, closures, and plastic packaging.
Silgan Holdings reported revenues of $1.47 billion, up 4.1% year on year. This number topped analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The stock is up 11.2% since reporting and currently trades at $48.65.
Read our full, actionable report on Silgan Holdings here, it’s free.
Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK)
Founded in 1991, Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK) is a provider of paper-based packaging solutions for a wide range of products.
Graphic Packaging Holding reported revenues of $2.10 billion, flat year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. However, it was a slower quarter as it produced full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
Graphic Packaging Holding had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 16.1% since reporting and currently trades at $12.40.
Read our full, actionable report on Graphic Packaging Holding here, it’s free.
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