{
  "id": 7856910,
  "title": "S&P upgrades Packaging Corp. rating to BBB+ on low leverage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/s-p-upgrades-packaging-corp-rating-to-bbb-on-low-leverage",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-16T19:50:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/sp-upgrades-packaging-corp-rating-to-bbb-on-low-leverage-93CH-4904391"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "S&P Global Ratings has upgraded Packaging Corp. of America (PCA) to a 'BBB+' rating from 'BBB', citing the company's sustained leverage below 2.0x despite its recent acquisition of Greif’s containerboard business. The company financed the $1.8 billion acquisition using $1 billion in term loan proceeds, $300 million in cash, and $500 million in unsecured notes, maintaining leverage of about 1.2x in the four fiscal years prior to the Greif acquisition. PCA is expected to realize roughly $60 million of synergies annually from the Greif acquisition, which are projected to be fully realized by the end of 2027. The company's market-leading margins exceed 21%, and S&P forecasts adjusted leverage at 1.7x at year end, falling to 1.4x in 2027. Revenue is expected to increase mid- to high-single-digit percent in 2027, with S&P Global Ratings-adjusted EBITDA margins sustaining above 23%.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}