Wall Street Sees Growth in the Packaging Industry

It is difficult to directly measure data on packaging and containers because of the permeation of packaging and containers products in everyday consumer activities and because of the permeation of those products along many—if not most—supply chains in a multitude of industries. Therefore, Gardner Intelligence has built customized tools that collect and analyze the quarterly business results of publicly-traded firms in the plastics and containers industry to provide those serving this industry with more up-to-date information.

In examining the financial data of publicly traded U.S. packaging and container manufacturers of plastic and rubber products, it is apparent that revenues for the group grew 7.1 percent between the third quarter of 2016 (3Q2016) and the third quarter of 2017 (3Q2017). Appending Wall Street estimates to this historical data, revenues are expected to increase 2.6 percent and 6.1 percent respectively for the 12-month periods ending in 3Q2018 and in 3Q2019. Taking an extended look at inflation-adjusted (or “real”) historical and forecasted revenues for the period from 2000 to 2020, one will see that the growth rate of real revenues increased around 2012 and is projected to continue to grow at that faster rate through at least early 2019. Forecasted financial values are natively reported in nominal terms. All metrics that are defined in ‘real’ terms have been adjusted to 2015-dollar terms. Gardner Intelligence applies a 2.5-percent annual deflator to forecasted values to more accurately blend inflation-adjusted historical and forecasted figures.

Revenues for publicly traded U.S. packaging and container manufacturers of plastic and rubber products grew 7.1 percent between the third quarter of 2016 and the third quarter of 2017.

Additionally, examining Wall Street consensus projections for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), we see that these same packaging firms are predicted to see EBITDA growth of 5.1 percent between 3Q2017 and 3Q2018 and an impressive 11.1 percent between 3Q2018 and 3Q2019. Gardner pays close attention to EBITDA because of the importance of end-users’ profitability in determining their ability to purchase capital equipment. Gardner attributes these robust forecasts to the expected strength of the U.S. and world economies, driven by strong consumer spending and low unemployment over the forecasted period.