As the Q4 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the industrial packaging industry, including Silgan Holdings (NYSE:SLGN) 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 6.1% on average since the latest earnings results.
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 print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
"Our 2025 results continued to highlight the meaningful progress from our key strategic initiatives, as we successfully integrated the Weener acquisition, continued to outpace market growth in our high value dispensing and pet food products, and completed our multi-year cost savings program. The Silgan team showed exceptional strength, drive and commitment in 2025 while adapting to a dynamic operating environment and continuing to compete and win in the marketplace by meeting the unique needs of our customers and being the best at what we do. The power of our diverse portfolio of consumer staple products, the effectiveness of the Silgan business model, and the discipline of our capital deployment strategy has positioned the Company to continue to outperform our peers and our end markets to create meaningful value for our shareholders," said Adam Greenlee, President and CEO.
Interestingly, the stock is up 10.2% since reporting and currently trades at $48.24.
Is now the time to buy Silgan 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 a solid beat of analysts’ revenue and EBITDA estimates.
Ball scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 17.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $66.44.
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 6.8% since the results and currently trades at $238.93.
Read our full analysis of Packaging Corporation of America’s results here.
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 number beat analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but full-year EPS guidance slightly missing analysts’ expectations.
The stock is down 2% since reporting and currently trades at $112.90.
Read our full, actionable report on Crown 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 result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. More broadly, it was a slower quarter as it logged 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 11.3% since reporting and currently trades at $13.11.
Read our full, actionable report on Graphic Packaging Holding here, it’s free.
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