As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q3. Today, we are looking at industrial packaging stocks, starting with Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE: PKG).

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 strong Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.8%.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 9.4% on average since the latest earnings results.

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 $2.60 billion, up 12.5% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, but overall, it was a mixed quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, “We executed very well across all aspects of our operations, resulting in very strong earnings performance for the quarter despite continued cost headwinds from freight, recycled fiber and chemicals and some weakness in agricultural end markets in our corrugated business. Our mills ran at full capacity during the quarter, and we are meaningfully realizing production benefits from projects at our Jackson mill as well as improved operating performance at the acquired Greif mills. We managed to build sufficient inventory to put us in position to efficiently supply our corrugated operations in the fourth quarter and help us continue to mitigate escalating freight costs. Our white paper operations turned in another excellent quarter, with higher than expected sales volumes, strong price realization and safe and successful completion of the maintenance outage at the International Falls mill.”

Interestingly, the stock is up 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $259.09.

Is now the time to buy Packaging Corporation of America? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Ball (NYSE: BALL)

Started with a $200 loan in 1880, Ball (NYSE: BALL) manufactures aluminum packaging for beverages, personal care, and household products as well as aerospace systems and other technologies.

Ball reported revenues of $4.19 billion, up 23.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 10.8%. The business had a very strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Ball delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat and fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $66.98.

Is now the time to buy Ball? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Slowest Q3: 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 $2.04 billion, up 1.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. It was a mixed quarter as it posted full-year EPS guidance beating analysts’ expectations.

Silgan Holdings delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 12.5% since the results and currently trades at $42.66.

Read our full analysis of Silgan Holdings’s results here.

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 $2.19 billion, flat year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 25.3% since reporting and currently trades at $11.70.

Read our full, actionable report on Graphic Packaging Holding here, it’s free.

International Paper (NYSE: IP)

Established in 1898, International Paper (NYSE: IP) produces containerboard, pulp, paper, and materials used in packaging and printing applications.

International Paper reported revenues of $6.20 billion, flat year on year. This number lagged analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. In spite of that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

International Paper had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 5.9% since reporting and currently trades at $35.35.

Read our full, actionable report on International Paper here, it’s free.

Market update

Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.

Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.

By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.