Packaging Corporation of America (0KEZ.L)

Paperboard market to grow, exiting 'packaging recession': BofA

Bank of America has expressed bullish optimism towards the paper and forest products sector, with analysts raising their rating to Buy across the industry. This positive sentiment stems from an improved outlook and favorable industry trends. BofA Securities George Staphos joins Market Domination to share his outlook on the paperboard markets. Staphos highlights the significance of wholesale cardboard boxes to the market, stating, "80% of the economy moves through corrugated boxes." He notes that since the second half of 2022, packaging markets have been in a recession. However, following their survey, they observed "a very large pickup in the growth expectations for the next two quarters" among independent box makers surveyed. Shares of packaging companies Greif (GEF), Graphic Packaging (GPK), and Packaging Corp. of America (PKG) ticked up in Monday's session. With growth expected to materialize, Staphos notes it's not "all black and white positive," though he also sees continued growth thanks to e-commerce tailwinds. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination. This post was written by Angel Smith