Sonoco Shares Surge as Packaging Giant Swings to Q4 Profit

Sonoco reported a net profit of $332 million, or $3.33 per share, reversing a $43 million loss from the prior year. Excluding one-time items, adjusted earnings reached $1.05 per share, surpassing the $1.00 consensus estimate from FactSet. Revenue grew 30% to $1.77 billion, outperforming the $1.76 billion anticipated by analysts.

Strategic Financial Targets

The market response was immediate, with shares climbing 11% to $57.50 by midday. This surge builds on a 19% gain over the past year, as investors weighed the company’s new long-term financial framework. Sonoco leadership expects to generate significant liquidity, targeting $2.5 billion in cumulative operating cash flow over the next three years.

The company’s 2026 guidance anticipates revenue between $7.25 billion and $7.75 billion, alongside the following performance milestones:

• Adjusted EBITDA of $1.5 billion by the end of 2028.
• Adjusted earnings per share between $5.80 and $6.20 for fiscal year 2026.
• Cumulative cash flow from operations reaching $2.5 billion by 2027.

According to the official report, Sonoco expects 2026 adjusted earnings to align with or exceed the current analyst consensus of $5.96 per share. The company’s focus remains on operational efficiency and high-value packaging segments to sustain this momentum through 2028.