Reading KRT? Track it free: the weekly brief, plus an alert if the thesis breaks. No credit card.
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NASDAQConsumer DiscretionaryPackaging & ContainersSnapshot 2026-06-15
Recent financial performance is holding in the top half of its industry — the reason to own it looks intact.
Recent financial performance is neutral. Earnings quality is fragile, meaning profits lack cash support. Management's recent track record has been steady. Risk is elevated, and the sector backdrop is a headwind. Peer multiples imply a price about 26% below where it trades (it looks expensive on this basis); the read is fair, but weakening. This assessment is provisional.
Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
A consensus fair price across 5 valuation methods, at three horizons. Current price $29.93. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
No-growth: today's peer multiple on trailing earnings. The headline read.
Embeds projected growth. Leans optimistic by design. Upside context.
We take the 12-month fair value above and grade our own number — how the market prices this name versus what we'd justify, and where the two diverge.
At $30 KRT trades at 19× p/e, in line with its 15× p/e peer median. Our $24 fair value reflects that, high confidence. Not investment advice.
One valuation read at a 12-month horizon, plus how price compares to peers and the company's own history.
The market is pricing in roughly 26% near-term growth, ahead of our forecast of about 8%. This describes what's priced in, not a forecast of the move.
Only weak execution quality — not the full expensive x weak x turbulent stack.
For similar setups historically (n=20,154): about 33% saw a 20%+ drawdown, and roughly 76% of those did not recover within the year. These are historical base rates for the cohort, not a forecast of this stock.
Each factor is a parallel diagnostic with a clear read of what it shows and how names like it have historically fared. Never aggregated into a single score.
Operating income rose in 0 of the last 3 quarter-over-quarter moves. Historically, Consumer Discretionary names rated neutral grew net income 48% of the time over the next year (vs 64% for the rest of the cohort, n=3804).
Over the trailing year it converted 1.05x of net income into operating cash flow. Historically, Consumer Discretionary names rated fragile grew net income 45% of the time over the next year (vs 58% for the rest of the cohort, n=2427).
Most sensitive to the broad stock market.
Not enough signal to read sensitivity to the US dollar, long-term interest rates, Fed net liquidity, real (inflation-adjusted) rates.
The next print and the backdrop around it (sector regime and the AI cycle). Context for the path, not a forecast of returns.
EPS estimate $0.57 → $0.51 (-10.5% / 30d). 0 raised, 1 cut, 1 covering analysts.
1 upgrade, 0 downgrades / 30d, 0 maintained. 50% of analysts rate Buy.
How management runs the business: capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
A guidance track record builds as the company issues and delivers on guidance.
What a normal day, a bad day, and the worst of the last year would mean for a $10,000 position.
On a typical day, $10k can swing ±$105.
How much price usually moves either way.
On a bad day, this stock has moved -$312.
A rough but not unusual down day (about the 95th percentile).
In the worst 12 months, $10k could have lost $2,678.
Deepest peak-to-trough drop in the last year.
Past results, not a forecast. Not investment advice.
The most important moves since the prior daily snapshot.
No material changes since the prior snapshot.
as of 2026-06-15
Specific, dated things to watch for, each with what would confirm it and what would prove it wrong.
Why it matters: The Fed's decision could impact consumer spending and borrowing costs. Changes may influence Karat Packaging's sales.
Confirms one read:The Fed raises interest rates by more than 25 basis points.
Confirms the other:The Fed keeps rates unchanged or lowers them.
Recent news graded against this company's own objectives — whether it reinforces or challenges the thesis, and how confirmed it is.
No graded news catalysts for KRT yet.
Conditional scenarios: if X happens, the view would shift in this direction. These are not predictions.
Recent SEC 8-K filings ranked by likely impact, confidence, and recency.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On May 7, 2026, Karat Packaging Inc. (the " Company " ) issued a press release reporting its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The information furnished pursuant to this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the " Exchange Act " ),…
Whether the overall read has been drifting up or down lately, and how it's changed since last week.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
Long-thesis check; widest uncertainty.
Looks more expensive than peers.
Self-history needs ~20 months of data.
Trailing four: 2025-Q1, 2025-Q2, 2025-Q3, 2026-Q1
A side-by-side read on sector standing, valuation, and risk versus Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials.
| Stock | Sector standing | Valuation | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
KRT Karat Packaging, Inc. | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 43 of 100 | full | elevated |
SW Smurfit Westrock | Below typical Show detailsSector percentile: 17 of 100 | fair | elevated |
PKG Packaging Corporation of America | Above typical Show detailsSector percentile: 77 of 100 | fair | low |
IP International Paper | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 47 of 100 | fair | elevated |
AMCR Amcor | Typical Show detailsSector percentile: 49 of 100 | inexpensive | moderate |
7 material management or governance events in the past 24 months, led by capital-allocation actions. Historically, Consumer Discretionary names rated neutral grew net income 54% of the time over the next year (vs 57% for the rest of the cohort, n=646).
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-15.
via XLY
Tailwind = sector leading the S&P 500; headwind = trailing. Both can be constructive. Historically, headwind regimes have averaged stronger forward returns than tailwind.
Context label only: describes the market state (e.g. real bear vs narrative panic, healthy uptrend vs late-stage froth). It is not a per-ticker buy/sell signal and does not predict factor performance.
Not investment advice. As of 2026-06-15.
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
Management aims to increase net sales by low double-digits for the full year 2026 compared to the prior year.
Stated in 2 of last 2 quarters. Revenue increased from $101.6M in 2024-Q4 to $116.9M in 2026-Q1. The trajectory shows growth, aligning with management's guidance for low double-digit increases in 2026.
“Net sales for full-year 2026 expected to increase by low double-digits from the prior year.”
“Net sales for full-year 2026 expected to increase by low double-digits from the prior year.”
The company has consistently declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share.
Stated in 3 of last 3 quarters. The company maintained a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share from 2025-Q3 to 2026-Q1, demonstrating consistent capital allocation to shareholders.
The company aims for a gross margin between 34% and 36% for the full year 2026.
Stated in 2 of last 2 quarters. Gross margin for 2026-Q1 was 35.5%, within the guided range of 34-36%. The company is delivering on its margin target for 2026.
“Gross margin for full-year 2026 expected to be within 34 to 36%, excluding potential tariff refund impact.”
Why it matters: GDP growth affects overall economic health. Strong GDP growth could signal better demand for Karat Packaging's products.
Confirms:GDP growth is revised up to above 2% for Q1 2026.
Disproves:GDP growth is revised down to below 1% for Q1 2026.
Why it matters: This report will show if consumer spending is improving. Strong retail sales could help Karat Packaging's outlook.
Confirms:Retail sales growth above 0.5% month over month.
Disproves:Retail sales decline or growth below 0.1% month over month.
Why it matters: Employment data can indicate consumer spending power. Strong job growth may boost demand for Karat Packaging's products.
Confirms:Non-farm payrolls increase by more than 300,000 jobs.
Disproves:Non-farm payrolls increase by fewer than 100,000 jobs.
Other Events. On May 5, 2026, the Board of Directors (the " Board " ) of Karat Packaging Inc. (the " Company " ) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share (the " Quarterly Dividend " ) on the Company’s common stock, which will be paid on or about May 28, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 21, 2026. On May 6, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Board has declared the Quarterly Dividend. A copy of the press release is atta…
Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant. On March 13, 2026, the Audit Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Karat Packaging Inc. (the “Company”) approved the engagement of BDO USA, P.C. ("BDO") as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (“Independent Accountant”) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. Also, effective March 13, 2026, the Committee approved the dismissal of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the Company’s Inde…
Results of Operations and Financial Condition. On March 12, 2026 , Karat Packaging Inc. (the "Company”) issued a press release reporting its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The information furnished pursuant to this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed "filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the…
Other Events. On February 5, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Karat Packaging Inc. (the “Company”) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share (the “Quarterly Dividend”) on the Company’s common stock, which will be paid on or about February 27, 2026 to the stockholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2026. On February 6, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Board has declared the Quarterly Dividend. A copy of the press…
“The Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share.”
“The Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share.”
“The Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share.”
“Gross margin for full-year 2026 expected to be within 34 to 36%, excluding potential tariff refund impact.”