Graphic Packaging (NYSE: GPK) posts Q1 2026 loss on heavy charges
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
10-Q
Graphic Packaging Holding Company reported Q1 2026 results with net sales of $2,156 million, up 2% from $2,120 million a year earlier, driven by higher volumes, innovation sales and favorable foreign exchange, partly offset by lower pricing. Income from operations fell to $19 million from $221 million as weather, higher maintenance, production curtailments, labor and commodity inflation, and lower pricing more than offset cost savings. The company recorded $71 million in business combinations, exit and other special charges, including $40 million to discontinue automated roll warehouse projects, $18 million for cost and production optimization (mainly severance), and $13 million of impairment on held-for-sale assets, leading to a net loss of $43 million versus net income of $127 million in Q1 2025. Net cash used in operating activities improved to $113 million from $174 million, while capital spending decreased to $140 million from $313 million as the Waco, Texas recycled paperboard facility ramp-up wound down. Total debt remained high, with a March 31, 2026 Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio of 4.18 to 1.00, below the amended maximum of 5.00 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of 5.48 to 1.00. The company continues to emphasize sustainable, fiber-based packaging, innovation-led sales growth and ongoing restructuring to streamline its manufacturing footprint and cost base.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- Profitability deterioration and restructuring charges: Q1 2026 income from operations fell 91% to $19 million and results swung to a $43 million net loss, driven by weaker pricing, inflation, weather and $71 million of exit and other special charges, including $40 million for cancelled warehouse projects.
Insights
Q1 2026 shows profit collapse from one-off and structural cost pressures.
Graphic Packaging grew net sales 2% to $2,156 million, helped by $42 million in innovation-driven sales and favorable FX. However, income from operations dropped from $221 million to $19 million, a 91% decline, and results swung to a $43 million net loss.
Management attributes the margin deterioration to lower pricing, weather disruptions, higher maintenance and curtailments, plus labor and commodity inflation of about $37 million combined. On top of that, the company booked $71 million of exit and special charges, including $40 million to abandon automated roll warehouses and $18 million for cost and production optimization initiatives.
On leverage, the amended credit agreement raised the maximum Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio to 5.00 to 1.00 through December 31, 2026. Actual leverage at March 31, 2026 was 4.18 to 1.00, leaving headroom but highlighting a relatively leveraged balance sheet. Future quarters will show whether cost actions and the Waco mill ramp translate into sustained margin recovery.
Key Figures
Net sales: $2,156 million
Income from operations: $19 million
Net (loss) income: -$43 million
+5 more
8 metrics
Net sales
$2,156 million
Three months ended March 31, 2026; up from $2,120 million in 2025
Income from operations
$19 million
Q1 2026; down from $221 million in Q1 2025 (91% decrease)
Net (loss) income
-$43 million
Q1 2026; versus $127 million net income in Q1 2025
Business combinations and exit charges
$71 million
Q1 2026 Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net
Automated warehouse project write-off
$40 million
Q1 2026 charges to discontinue Kalamazoo and Texarkana automated roll warehouses
Cost and production optimization charges
$18 million
Q1 2026 primarily severance for support function review
Net cash used in operating activities
$113 million
Three months ended March 31, 2026; improved from $174 million in 2025
Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio
4.18 to 1.00
As of March 31, 2026; below amended maximum of 5.00 to 1.00
Key Terms
Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net, Beneficial Interest on Sold Receivables, Supplier finance program (SFP), Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio, +2 more
6 terms
Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net financial
"The following table summarizes the transactions recorded in Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net"
Beneficial Interest on Sold Receivables financial
"Beneficial Interest on Sold Receivables | 137 | 58 Beneficial Interest Obtained in Exchange for Proceeds"
Supplier finance program (SFP) financial
"The Company has arranged a supplier finance program ("SFP") with a financial intermediary"
Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio financial
"The Amendment increases the existing maximum Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio covenant"
Consolidated total leverage ratio measures how much a company owes compared with the profit it generates, calculated across all its units together. Think of it as the company’s total net debt divided by a measure of annual operating cash profit; like comparing how much mortgage you owe to your yearly take-home pay. Investors use it to judge risk: a higher ratio means more debt burden and greater vulnerability to shocks, while a lower ratio suggests a stronger ability to service debt and sustain operations.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss financial
"These changes in fair value are not included in current earnings but are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss"
Accumulated other comprehensive loss is the running negative total of certain gains and losses that companies record outside their regular profit-and-loss statement, such as changes in the value of some investments, pension adjustments, or currency translation effects. It matters to investors because it reduces shareholders’ equity and reveals economic swings that haven’t affected reported net income yet — like a side ledger showing pending ups and downs that could influence future cash flow or balance-sheet strength.
cash flow hedges financial
"These derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges and, to the extent they are effective"
A cash flow hedge is an accounting label companies use when they enter financial contracts—like currency or interest-rate agreements—to protect expected future cash payments or receipts from unpredictable moves. For investors, it signals that the company is trying to smooth out future cash variability (think of locking in a price to avoid surprises), which can reduce reported profit swings but also means the company has exposure to derivative instruments and their associated risks.
Earnings Snapshot
Net sales: $2,156 million
Q1 2026
Net sales
$2,156 million
+2% YoY
Income from operations
$19 million
-91% YoY
Net (loss) income
-$43 million
down from $127 million profit YoY
Diluted EPS
-$0.14
down from $0.42 YoY
Net cash used in operating activities
$113 million
improved from $174 million use YoY
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026
or
| | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File Number: 001-33988
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) | ||||||||
(770 ) 240-7200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☑ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | Emerging growth company | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑
As of May 4, 2026, there were 295,887,387 shares of the registrant's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.
Table of Contents
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements regarding the expectations of Graphic Packaging Holding Company ("GPHC" and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), including, but not limited to, material cash requirements and primary sources of liquidity and the sufficiency thereof, pension contributions and postretirement healthcare plan expenses in this report constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's historical experience and its present expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, inflation of and volatility in raw material and energy costs, changes in consumer buying habits and product preferences, competition with other paperboard manufacturers and converters, product substitution, the Company's ability to implement its business strategies, including acquisitions, productivity initiatives, cost reduction plans and integration activities, the Company's debt level, currency movements and other risks of conducting business internationally, the impact of regulatory and litigation matters, including those that could impact the Company's ability to utilize its U.S. federal income tax attributes to offset taxable income or U.S. federal income taxes and the timing related to the Company's future U.S. federal income tax payments, and those that impact the Company's ability to protect and use its intellectual property. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, as such statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as may be required by law. Additional information regarding these and other risks is contained in Part I, "Item 1A., Risk Factors" of the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I - Financial Information | 4 | |||||||
Item 1. | Financial Statements (Unaudited) | 4 | ||||||
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 25 | ||||||
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk | 31 | ||||||
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 31 | ||||||
Part II - Other Information | 33 | |||||||
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 33 | ||||||
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 33 | ||||||
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 33 | ||||||
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 33 | ||||||
Item 5. | Other Information | 33 | ||||||
Item 6. | Exhibits | 34 | ||||||
Signatures | 35 | |||||||
3
Table of Contents
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| In millions, except per share amounts | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| Cost of Sales | ||||||||||||||
| Selling, General and Administrative | ||||||||||||||
| Other Expense, Net | ||||||||||||||
Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net | ||||||||||||||
Income from Operations | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Expense, Net | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
(Loss) Income before Income Taxes | ( | |||||||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
Net (Loss) Income Per Share - Basic | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
Net (Loss) Income Per Share - Diluted | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
Table of Contents
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | ( | $ | |||||
| Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Net of Tax: | ||||||||
| Derivative Instruments | ||||||||
| Currency Translation Adjustment | ( | |||||||
| Total Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Net of Tax | ( | |||||||
| Total Comprehensive (Loss) Income | $ | ( | $ | |||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
Table of Contents
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
| In millions, except share and per share amounts | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Receivables, Net | ||||||||
| Inventories, Net | ||||||||
| Assets Held for Sale | ||||||||
| Other Current Assets | ||||||||
| Total Current Assets | ||||||||
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Net | ||||||||
| Goodwill | ||||||||
| Intangible Assets, Net | ||||||||
| Other Assets | ||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Liabilities | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Short-Term Debt and Current Portion of Long-Term Debt | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accounts Payable | ||||||||
| Compensation and Employee Benefits | ||||||||
| Interest Payable | ||||||||
| Liabilities Held for Sale | ||||||||
| Other Accrued Liabilities | ||||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | ||||||||
| Long-Term Debt | ||||||||
| Deferred Income Tax Liabilities | ||||||||
| Accrued Pension and Postretirement Benefits | ||||||||
| Other Noncurrent Liabilities | ||||||||
| Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||
Preferred Stock, par value $ | ||||||||
Common Stock, par value $ | ||||||||
| Capital in Excess of Par Value | ||||||||
| Retained Earnings | ||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | ( | ( | ||||||
| Total Graphic Packaging Holding Company Shareholders' Equity | ||||||||
| Noncontrolling Interest | ||||||||
| Total Equity | ||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | $ | $ | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity
(Unaudited)
| Common Stock | Capital in Excess of Par Value | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Noncontrolling Interests | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In millions, except share amounts | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Loss | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instruments | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currency Translation Adjustment | — | — | — | — | ( | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends Declared | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Recognition of Stock-Based Compensation, Net | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Shares for Stock-Based Awards | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at March 31, 2026 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Stock | Capital in Excess of Par Value | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | Noncontrolling Interests | Total Equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In millions, except share amounts | Shares | Amount | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at December 31, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Income | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Instruments | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Currency Translation Adjustment | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends Declared | — | — | — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Recognition of Stock-Based Compensation, Net | — | — | ( | — | — | — | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Shares for Stock-Based Awards | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balances at March 31, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Table of Contents
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | ( | $ | |||||
| Adjustments to Reconcile Net (Loss) Income to Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | ||||||||
| Amortization of Deferred Debt Issuance Costs | ||||||||
| Deferred Income Taxes | ( | |||||||
| Amount of Postretirement Expense Less Than Funding | ( | |||||||
| Share-Based Compensation Expense, Net | ( | |||||||
| Asset Impairment Charges | ||||||||
| Other, Net | ( | |||||||
| Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities | ( | ( | ||||||
| Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | ( | ( | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
| Capital Spending | ( | ( | ||||||
| Acquisition of Businesses | ( | |||||||
| Beneficial Interest on Sold Receivables | ||||||||
| Beneficial Interest Obtained in Exchange for Proceeds | ( | ( | ||||||
| Other, Net | ( | ( | ||||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | ( | ( | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Payments on Debt | ( | ( | ||||||
| Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facilities | ||||||||
| Payments on Revolving Credit Facilities | ( | ( | ||||||
| Repurchase of Common Stock related to Share-Based Payments | ( | ( | ||||||
| Debt Issuance Costs | ( | |||||||
| Dividends Paid | ( | ( | ||||||
| Other, Net | ( | ( | ||||||
| Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities | ||||||||
| Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents | ( | ( | ||||||
| Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash | ||||||||
| Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents | ( | ( | ||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period | ||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period | $ | $ | ||||||
| Non-cash Investing Activities: | ||||||||
Beneficial Interest Obtained in Exchange for Trade Receivables | $ | $ | ||||||
| Right-of-Use Assets Obtained in Exchange for New Operating Lease Liabilities | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
8
Table of Contents
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 1. General Information
Nature of Business
Graphic Packaging Holding Company ("GPHC" and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") is committed to creating consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The Company is a leading producer of consumer goods packaging made from renewable or recycled materials. The Company designs and manufactures sustainable packaging solutions including cartons, multipack cartons, trays, carriers, paperboard canisters, as well as cups and bowls made primarily from recycled paperboard, unbleached paperboard and bleached paperboard.
The Company serves a wide variety of consumer markets, from food and beverage, to foodservice, household products, beauty and health care. The Company produces packaging solutions at over 100 locations in over 20 countries around the world, serving customers ranging from local to multinational consumer products companies and retailers. The Company offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of packaging design, manufacturing and execution capabilities available. The Company currently manufactures most of the paperboard it consumes in the Americas and purchases the majority of the paperboard it consumes in its International Paperboard Packaging operations from third parties.
Graphic Packaging works closely with its customers to understand their needs and goals and to create new and innovative designs customized to their specific needs. The Company's approach serves to build and strengthen long-term relationships with purchasing, brand management, marketing and other key customer functions. The Company is organized to bring the full resources of its global and local innovation, design and manufacturing capabilities to all of its customers with the goal of delivering packaging solutions that are more circular, more functional and more convenient.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all subsidiaries in which the Company has the ability to exercise direct or indirect control over operating and financial policies. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation.
Revenue Recognition
The Company manufactures and converts (prints, cuts, folds and glues) paperboard into consumer packaging made from renewable or recycled materials, from which it generates revenue from contracts with customers. Revenue is disaggregated primarily by geography as further explained in Note 9. Segment Information. All reportable segments and the Paperboard Manufacturing operating segment recognize revenue under the same method, allocate transaction price using similar methods, and have similar economic factors impacting the uncertainty of revenue and related cash flows.
The transaction price allocated to each performance obligation consists of the stand-alone selling price, estimates of rebates and other sales or contract renewal incentives, and cash discounts and sales returns ("Variable Consideration") and excludes sales tax. Estimates are made for Variable Consideration based on contract terms and historical experience of actual results and are applied to the performance obligations as they are satisfied. Purchases by the Company's principal customers are manufactured and shipped with minimal lead time, therefore performance obligations are generally satisfied shortly after manufacturing and shipment. The Company uses standard payment terms that are consistent with industry practice.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Accounts Receivable and Allowances
Accounts receivable are stated at the amount owed by the customer, net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts, returns and allowances, and cash discounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on historical experience, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and the creditworthiness of customers. Receivables are charged to the allowance when determined to be no longer collectible.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
Receivables Sold and Derecognized | $ | $ | ||||||
| Proceeds Collected on Behalf of Financial Institutions | ||||||||
| Net Proceeds Paid to Financial Institutions | ( | ( | ||||||
Deferred Purchase Price at March 31(a) | ||||||||
| Pledged Receivables at March 31 | ||||||||
(a) Included in Other Current Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and represents a beneficial interest in the receivables sold to the financial institutions, which is a Level 3 fair value measure.
Receivables sold under all programs subject to continuing involvement, which consists principally of collection services, were $847 million and $814 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
The Company also participates in supply chain financing arrangements offered by certain customers that qualify for sale accounting in accordance with the Transfers and Servicing topic of the FASB Codification. For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company sold receivables of $271 million and $262 million, respectively, related to these arrangements.
The fees associated with the sale of receivables for all programs were $13 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively, and are included in Other Expense, Net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Share Repurchases and Dividends
On April 30, 2025, the Board of Directors authorized an additional share repurchase program to allow the Company to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of the Company's issued and outstanding shares of common stock through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions and Rule 10b5-1 plans (the "2025 share repurchase program"). The previous $500 million share repurchase program was authorized on July 27, 2023 (the "2023 share repurchase program"). During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. At March 31, 2026, the Company had $1.715
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Board of Directors declared regular quarterly dividends as follows:
| Date Declared | Record Date | Payment Date | Dividends Per Common Share | ||||||||
| February 26, 2026 | March 15, 2026 | April 8, 2026 | $ | ||||||||
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Accounts Payable and Supplier Finance Program
Non-cash additions to Property, Plant and Equipment, Net included within Accounts Payable on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets were $35 million and $79 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net
The following table summarizes the transactions recorded in Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
Exit Activities | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Charges Associated with Business Combinations, net(a) | ( | |||||||||||||
Charges Associated with Divestitures | ||||||||||||||
Other Special Items(b) | ( | |||||||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
(a) Relates to the release of a reserve for German real estate transfer taxes incurred in connection with the Company's acquisition of AR Packaging Group AB in November 2021.
(b) In 2025, $4 million was credited to compensation expense for stock incentive plans due to Company performance adjustments for the 2024 grants of performance-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") previously expensed in 2024, and related to the terms of the 2024 grants (which differed from the 2023 grants) under the Graphic Packaging Holding Company 2014 Omnibus Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2014 Plan") (see Note 4. Stock Incentive Plans).
Exit Activities
During the first quarter of 2026, the Company decided to discontinue its project to build automated roll warehouses at its Kalamazoo, Michigan and Texarkana, Texas paperboard manufacturing facilities. This decision reflects a shift in operational priorities and the Company's focus on optimizing capital deployment and cost-management efforts. As a result of the cancellation of this project, the Company incurred charges of $
Also during the first quarter of 2026, the Company implemented additional cost and production optimization initiatives following its review of support functions and other expenses. These initiatives were incremental to the measures taken in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company incurred $18 million of related charges in the first quarter of 2026, primarily for severance, in addition to the $6 million incurred in the fourth quarter of 2025. These charges are included in the table above for the three months ended March 31, 2026. For more information, see Note 12. Exit Activities.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized a $13 million charge to adjust certain held for sale assets to their estimated fair value. Current Assets and Current Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2026 include $19 million and $6 million, respectively, primarily related to multiple paperboard manufacturing and packaging facilities and other related assets that met the held for sale criteria as of March 31, 2026. Current Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include $10 million primarily related to multiple paperboard manufacturing and packaging facilities that met the held for sale criteria as of December 31, 2025. For more information, see Note 12. Exit Activities.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company commenced operations of its new recycled paperboard manufacturing facility located in Waco, Texas. From the project's announcement through completion, the Company incurred $55 million of start-up charges within Corporate and Other. No start-up charges were incurred in 2026 or after the facility became operational in the fourth quarter of 2025. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company incurred $7 million of start-up charges, which is included in the table above. For more information, see Note 12. Exit Activities.
In connection with the Waco project, the Company closed its Middletown, Ohio recycled paperboard manufacturing facility in May 2025 and its East Angus, Québec recycled paperboard manufacturing facility in December 2025 to consolidate production into fewer, more efficient locations. Charges associated with these closures are included Exit Activities in the table above. For more information, see Note 12. Exit Activities.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
During 2024, the Company decided to close multiple packaging facilities. Production from these facilities has been consolidated into other existing packaging facilities. The costs associated with these exit activities are included in Exit Activities in the table above. During three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized a gain of $4 million on the sale of an exited property, which is also included in the table above. For more information see Note 12. Exit Activities.
Russia Vendor Loan and Loan Payable
In November 2023, the Company sold its two packaging facilities in Russia (the "Russian Operations") to former members of management (the "Buyer") for total consideration of $66 million, which primarily consisted of a long-term loan to the Buyer maturing in 2038 (the "Vendor Loan"). Due to ongoing sanctions and restrictions on movement of currency out of Russia to satisfy payments on the notes, the Company placed a valuation allowance of $51 million against the Vendor Loan receivable. Through March 31, 2026, the Buyer has repaid $4 million. The net carrying amount of the Vendor Loan is included in Other Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Goodwill
The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment tests as of October 1, 2025. The Company concluded that all reporting units with goodwill have a fair value that exceeds their carrying value, and thus goodwill was not impaired. Fair value exceeded carrying value by approximately 2 % for the International reporting unit and approximately 18 % for the Foodservice reporting unit. No other reporting units had a fair value that exceeded carrying value by less than 20 %. The International reporting unit and the Foodservice reporting unit had goodwill totaling $525 million and $84 million at March 31, 2026, respectively.
The variability of the assumptions that management uses to perform the goodwill impairment test depends on a number of conditions, including uncertainty about future events and cash flows. Accordingly, the Company's accounting estimates may materially change from period to period due to changing market factors. If the Company had used other assumptions and estimates or if different conditions occur in future periods, future operating results and cash flows could be materially impacted, and judgments and conclusions about the recoverability of goodwill could change. The assumptions used in the goodwill impairment testing process could also be adversely impacted by certain of the risks disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and thus could result in future goodwill impairment charges. The Company continuously monitors events which could trigger an interim impairment analysis, such as changing business conditions, our financial performance and our market capitalization. The Company determined there were no triggering events requiring an interim impairment analysis during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Adoption of New Accounting Standards
There have been no new accounting standards adopted since the filing of the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 that have significance, or potential significance, to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software. This ASU simplifies and modernizes the capitalization guidance for internal-use software costs by eliminating references to prescriptive software development stages and introducing a principles-based approach. Under the new guidance, capitalization begins when management authorizes and commits to funding a project and it is probable the software will be completed and used as intended, considering any significant uncertainties in development. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the guidance prospectively, retrospectively, or using a modified approach for in-process projects. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its disclosures.
In November 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-09, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Hedge Accounting Improvements. This ASU amends existing guidance to simplify the application of hedge accounting, enhance alignment between risk management activities and financial reporting, and provide additional flexibility in the designation and measurement of certain hedging relationships. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The disclosure updates are required to be applied prospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its disclosures.
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements. This ASU clarifies and improves interim disclosure requirements and the applicability of interim reporting guidance. It is effective for interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. Entities may apply the guidance prospectively or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its disclosures.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-12, Codification Improvements. This ASU includes targeted updates covering a broad range of topics, intended to clarify, correct errors or make minor improvements. It is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, including interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. Entities are required to apply the amendments to ASC 260 retrospectively. All other amendments may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, requiring disaggregate key expense categories such as inventory purchases, employee compensation and depreciation in their financial statements. This aims to improve investor insights into company performance. In January 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-01, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Clarifying the Effective Date. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The disclosure updates are required to be applied prospectively with the option for retrospective application. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its disclosures.
Note 2. Inventories, Net
Inventories, Net by major class:
| In millions | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Finished Goods | $ | $ | ||||||
| Work in Progress | ||||||||
| Raw Materials | ||||||||
| Supplies | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 3. Debt
Short-Term Debt and Current Portion of Long-Term Debt is comprised of the following:
| In millions | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
Short-Term Borrowings | $ | $ | ||||||
Current Portion of Finance Leases | ||||||||
| Current Portion of Long-Term Debt | ||||||||
Total | $ | $ | ||||||
Long-Term Debt is comprised of the following:
| In millions | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
Senior Notes with interest payable semi-annually at | $ | $ | ||||||
Senior Notes with interest payable semi-annually at | ||||||||
Senior Notes with interest payable semi-annually at | ||||||||
Senior Notes with interest payable semi-annually at | ||||||||
Senior Notes (€ | ||||||||
Senior Notes with interest payable semi-annually at | ||||||||
Senior Notes with interest payable semi-annually at | ||||||||
Green Bonds, net of unamortized premium with interest payable at | ||||||||
Green Bonds, net of unamortized premium with interest payable at | ||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan A-2 Facility with interest payable quarterly at | ||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan A-3 Facility with interest payable monthly at floating rates ( | ||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan A-5 Facility with interest payable monthly at floating rates ( | ||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan A-6 Facility with interest payable monthly at floating rates ( | ||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan A-1 Facilities with interest payable at various dates at floating rates ( | ||||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan Facility (€ | ||||||||
Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facilities with interest payable at floating rates ( | ||||||||
| Finance Leases | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total Long-Term Debt Including Current Portion | ||||||||
| Less: Current Portion | ||||||||
| Total Long-Term Debt Excluding Current Portion | ||||||||
| Less: Unamortized Debt Deferred Issuance Costs | ||||||||
| Total Long-Term Debt | $ | $ | ||||||
(a) Guaranteed by Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("GPIP") and certain domestic subsidiaries.
(b) The year-to-date weighted-average effective interest rates for the Company's Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facilities were 5.51 % and 5.84 % as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
On May 29, 2025, the Company, through its subsidiary GPIL, completed a $100 million tax-exempt green bond transaction through Mission Economic Development Corporation's Private Activity Bond Program (the "Green Bonds"). The Green Bonds are special limited obligations of Mission Economic Development Corporation (the "Issuer") payable from and secured by a pledge of payments to be made by GPIL under a loan agreement between the Issuer and GPIL. The Green Bonds mature and must be redeemed by the Company in 2030, but can be reissued under certain conditions until 2064. The Green Bonds were issued at a price of 101.904 % and bear interest at an annual rate of 5.0 %. The equivalent yield is 4.57 %. The net proceeds of $99 million were used to fund a portion of GPIL's spend on construction of the new recycled paperboard manufacturing facility located in Waco, Texas (the "Project"). The bonds have been designated as Green Bonds because: (i) the proceeds were used to finance a solid waste disposal/recycling facility; and (ii) the Project will promote environmental sustainability through expected reductions in the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage and water usage.
On October 31, 2025, GPIL entered into an Incremental Facility Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 3, 2024, which provides for a Delayed Draw Incremental Term Facility in the aggregate amount of up to $400 million pursuant to which GPIL may borrow a delayed draw incremental term loan in a single drawing during the period from and including March 15, 2026 and ending on April 15, 2026 (the "Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan"). The Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan will mature on June 30, 2027. The proceeds of the Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan shall be used by GPIL to repay in full GPIL's 1.512 % Senior Secured Notes due on April 15, 2026. The new term loan is collateralized by the same assets as the Company's Senior Secured Facilities on a pari passu basis. The new term loan will bear interest at a floating rate per annum, ranging from SOFR plus 1.00 % to SOFR plus 1.75 %, or base rate plus 0.00 % to base rate plus 0.75 %, determined using a pricing grid based on GPIL's consolidated total leverage ratio from time to time, and GPIL's election of SOFR or base rate as the reference rate. Prior to its funding, the Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan is subject to a commitment/ticking fee ranging from 0.10 % to 0.25 % per annum based on the undrawn amount thereof.
At March 31, 2026, the Company and its U.S. and international subsidiaries had the following commitments, amounts outstanding and amounts available under revolving credit facilities:
| In millions | Total Commitments | Total Outstanding | Total Available(a) | ||||||||
| Senior Secured Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
| Senior Secured International Revolving Credit Facility | |||||||||||
| Other International Facilities | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||
(a) In accordance with its debt agreements, the Company's availability under its revolving credit facilities has been reduced by the amount of standby letters of credit issued of $2 million as of March 31, 2026, which expire at various dates through 2027 unless extended. The Company also had $72 million of standby letters of credit issued under a separate unsecured facility as of March 31, 2026, which do not have any impact on the Company's availability under its revolving credit facilities. The standby letters of credit are primarily related to the Company's workers' compensation programs and project development activities.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest Expense, Net was $64 million and $51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. Interest is capitalized on assets under construction for one year or longer with an estimated spending of $1 million or more. The capitalized interest is recorded as part of the asset to which it relates and is amortized over the asset's estimated useful life. Capitalized interest was $2 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Covenant Agreements
The Covenants in the Credit Agreement and the supplemental indentures governing the 1.512 % Senior Notes due 2026, 4.75 % Senior Notes due 2027, 3.50 % Senior Notes due 2028, 3.50 % Senior Notes due 2029, 2.625 % Senior Notes due 2029, 3.75 % Senior Notes due 2030 and 6.375 % Senior Notes due 2032 (the "Indentures"), limit the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness. Additional covenants contained in the Credit Agreement and the Indentures may, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company to dispose of assets, incur guarantee obligations, prepay other indebtedness, repurchase stock, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, create liens, make equity or debt investments, make acquisitions, modify terms of the Indentures, engage in mergers or consolidations, change the business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries, and engage in certain transactions with affiliates. Such restrictions could limit the Company's ability to respond to changing market conditions, fund its capital spending program, provide for unexpected capital investments or take advantage of business opportunities.
On February 26, 2026, the Company, GPIP, Graphic Packaging International, LLC, the primary operating subsidiary of the Company ("GPIL"), certain subsidiaries of GPIL, and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto entered into Amendment No. 1 (the "Amendment") to the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 3, 2024 (as amended by the Amendment, the "Credit Agreement"). The Amendment increases the permitted Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio from March 31, 2026 to June 30, 2027. The Amendment increases the existing maximum Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio covenant from 4.25 to 1.00 to 5.00 to 1.00 for the period ending March 31, 2026 through December 31, 2026 and to 4.75 to 1.00 for the period ending March 31, 2027, through and including June 30, 2027. The Amendment also incorporates an additional pricing tier when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 4.75 to 1.00; limits share repurchases to $65 million on an annual basis; and places additional restrictions on acquisitions and investments in non-guarantor subsidiaries during the period commencing on February 26, 2026 and ending on September 30, 2027.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
At March 31, 2026, the Company was in compliance with such covenant and the ratio was 4.18 to 1.00.
The Company must also comply with a minimum Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio of 3.00 to 1.00. At March 31, 2026, the Company was in compliance with such covenant and the ratio was 5.48 to 1.00.
Note 4. Stock Incentive Plans
The Company has one active equity compensation plan from which new grants may be made, the Graphic Packaging Holding Company 2024 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the "2024 Plan"). Prior to the approval of the 2024 Plan and the expiration of the 2014 Plan, the Company made all new grants under the 2014 Plan. The 2024 Plan and 2014 Plan allow for granting shares of stock, options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, RSUs, restricted stock awards, and other types of stock-based and cash awards. Awards under the 2024 Plan and 2014 Plan vest and expire in accordance with terms established at the time of grant. Shares issued pursuant to awards under the 2024 Plan and 2014 Plan are from GPHC's authorized but unissued shares. Compensation costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award and are adjusted for actual performance for performance-based awards. As of March 31, 2026, there were 7.3 million shares remaining available to be granted under the 2024 Plan.
Stock Awards, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Under the 2024 and 2014 Plans and related RSU grant agreements, RSUs granted to employees generally vest and become payable in one to three years from the date of grant. RSUs granted to employees generally contain some combination of service and performance objectives based on various financial targets that must be met for the RSUs to vest, and a relative total shareholder return modifier. The 2023 award agreements contain vesting provisions that allow retiring employees to vest on a daily pro-rata basis from the date of grant through their retirement date. For the grant agreements subsequent to the 2024 Plan, the vesting provisions were changed to allow retiring employees to vest in full upon an eligible retirement. This change required the Company to accelerate the recognition of the compensation expense for the grants subsequent to the 2024 Plan for active retirement-eligible employees. Retirement eligibility is dependent upon meeting certain age and/or years of service and notice requirements.
RSUs granted as deferred compensation for non-employee directors are fully vested but not payable until the distribution date elected by the director. Stock awards issued to non-employee directors as part of their compensation for service on the Board are unrestricted on the grant date.
Data concerning RSUs and Stock Awards granted in the three months ended March 31, 2026 is as follows:
| Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share | ||||||||
| RSUs - Employees and Non-Employee Directors | $ | |||||||
Stock compensation expense included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Selling, General and Administrative | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net (a) | ( | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||
(a) Three months ended March 31, 2025 includes a credit to compensation expense for stock incentive plans due to Company performance adjustments for the 2024 grants of performance-based RSUs previously expensed in 2024, and related to the terms of the 2024 grants (which differed from the 2023 grants) under the 2014 Plan.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, 0.8 million and 1.6 million shares, respectively, were issued. The shares issued were primarily related to RSUs granted to employees during 2023 and 2022, and equity grants to non-employee directors.
Note 5. Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company maintains both defined benefit pension plans and postretirement health care plans that provide medical and life insurance coverage to eligible salaried and hourly retired employees in North America and their dependents. The Company maintains international defined benefit pension plans which are either noncontributory or contributory and are funded in accordance with applicable local laws. Pension or termination benefits are based primarily on years of service and the employee's compensation. Currently, the North American plans are closed to newly-hired employees.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Pension Expense
The pension expenses related to the Company's plans consisted of the following:
| Pension Benefits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Components of Net Periodic Cost: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service Cost | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Cost | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expected Return on Plan Assets | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actuarial Loss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Periodic Cost | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Employer Contributions
The Company made $2 10 million to $15 million for the full year 2026.
The Company did not 2 million in contributions to its postretirement health care plans.
Note 6. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurement
The Company enters into derivative instruments for risk management purposes only, including derivatives designated as hedging instruments under the Derivatives and Hedging topic of the FASB Codification and those not designated as hedging instruments under this guidance. The Company uses interest rate swaps, natural gas swap contracts and forward exchange contracts. These derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges and, to the extent they are effective in offsetting the variability of the hedged cash flows, changes in the derivatives' fair value are not included in current earnings but are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. These changes in fair value will subsequently be reclassified to earnings, contemporaneously with and offsetting changes in, the related hedged exposure and presented in the same line of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations expected for the hedged item.
For more information regarding the Company's financial instruments and fair value measurement, see Note 10. Financial Instruments, Derivatives and Hedging Activities and Note 11. Fair Value Measurement of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risks on future interest payments caused by interest rate changes on its variable rate term loan facilities. Changes in fair value are subsequently reclassified into earnings as a component of Interest Expense, Net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as interest is incurred on amounts outstanding under the term loan facilities.
The following table summarizes the Company's current interest rate swap positions as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025.
| Start | End | Notional Amount (In Millions) | Weighted Average Interest Rate | ||||||||
| 05/01/2025 | 05/01/2027 | $ | |||||||||
These derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges and, to the extent they are effective in offsetting the variability of the hedged cash flows, changes in the derivatives fair value are not included in current earnings but are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Ineffectiveness measured in the hedging relationship is recorded in earnings in the period in which it occurs. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, there were no no
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Commodity Risk
To manage risks associated with future variability in cash flows and price risk attributable to purchases of natural gas, the Company enters into natural gas swap contracts to hedge prices for a designated percentage of its expected natural gas usage. Such contracts are designated as cash flow hedges. The contracts are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and the resulting gain or loss reclassified into Cost of Sales on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations concurrently with the recognition of the commodity consumed. The Company has hedged approximately 60 % and 10 % of its expected natural gas usage for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, there were no no
Foreign Currency Risk
The Company enters into forward exchange contracts to manage risks associated with foreign currency transactions and future variability of cash flows arising from those transactions that may be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. The contracts are carried at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and gains and losses related to these contracts are recognized in Other Expense, Net or Net Sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, when appropriate.
As of March 31, 2026, the Company had multiple forward exchange contracts outstanding with maturities through the remainder of 2026. The purchased contracts outstanding on March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, when aggregated and translated into U.S. dollars at the respective contractual rates, had notional amounts of $82 million and $118 million, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, there were no amounts reclassified to earnings in connection with forecasted transactions that were considered probable of not occurring and there was no amount of ineffectiveness related to changes in the fair value of foreign currency forward contracts. Additionally, there were no amounts excluded from the measure of effectiveness. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had no outstanding forward exchange contracts.
Derivatives not Designated as Hedges
The Company enters into forward exchange contracts to effectively hedge substantially all of its accounts receivables resulting from sales transactions and intercompany loans denominated in foreign currencies in order to manage risks associated with variability in cash flows that may be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. At March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, multiple foreign currency forward exchange contracts existed, with maturities ranging up to five months 158 million and $155 million, respectively. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from these contracts are recognized in Other Expense, Net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and approximately offset corresponding recognized but unrealized gains and losses on the remeasurement of these accounts receivable.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company's derivative instruments are carried at fair value. The Company has determined that the inputs to the valuation of these derivative instruments are Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Level 2 inputs are defined as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly through market corroboration, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The Company uses valuation techniques based on discounted cash flow analyses, which reflect the terms of the derivatives and use observable market-based inputs, including forward rates, and uses market price quotations obtained from independent derivatives brokers, corroborated with information obtained from independent pricing service providers.
Derivative Assets(a) | Derivative Liabilities(b) | |||||||||||||
| March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | December 31, | |||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||
Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments: | ||||||||||||||
| Commodity Contracts | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Contracts | ||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap Agreements | ||||||||||||||
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments: | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Contracts | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
(a)Derivative assets of $2 million are included in Other Current Assets as of March 31, 2026.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The fair values of the Company's other financial assets and liabilities at March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 approximately equal the carrying values reported on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets except for Long-Term Debt. The fair value of the Company's Long-Term Debt (excluding finance leases and deferred financing fees) was $5,530 million and $5,381 million as compared to the carrying amounts of $5,621 million and $5,434 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively. The fair value of the Company's Total Debt, including the Senior Notes, is based on quoted market prices (Level 2 inputs). Level 2 valuation techniques for Long-Term Debt are based on quotations obtained from independent pricing service providers.
Effect of Derivative Instruments
The pre-tax effect of derivative instruments in cash flow hedging relationships in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
| Amount of Gain Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Amount of Gain Recognized in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | Location in Statement of Operations | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commodity Contracts | $ | ( | $ | ( | Cost of Sales | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Contracts | ( | Other Expense, Net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest Rate Swap Agreements | ( | Interest Expense, Net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | ( | $ | ( | Total | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||
At March 31, 2026, the Company expects to reclassify $4 million of pre-tax loss in the next twelve months from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to earnings, contemporaneously with, and offsetting changes in, the related hedged exposure. The actual amount that will be reclassified to future earnings may vary from this amount as a result of changes in market conditions.
The pre-tax effect of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:
| Amount of (Gain) Loss Recognized in Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | |||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| In millions | Location in Statement of Operations | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign Currency Contracts | Other Expense, Net | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||||
Note 7. Income Taxes
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized Income Tax Benefits of $2 million on Loss before Income Taxes of $45 million. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2026 is different from the statutory rate primarily due to the discrete tax impact of the charges associated with the adjustment of certain held for sale assets to their estimated fair value that results in no corresponding tax benefit. The Company also recorded discrete tax adjustments including $2 million for a tax shortfall related to RSUs that vested during the period and $2 million for the establishment of a valuation allowance against certain net deferred tax assets in the Netherlands. Additionally, the Company's effective tax rate is impacted by the mix of earnings between foreign and domestic jurisdictions, including those with and without valuation allowances.
During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized Income Tax Expense of $43 million on Income before Income Taxes of $170 million. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 is different from the statutory rate primarily due to the write-off of non-deductible book goodwill associated with the sale of the Company's Augusta, Georgia bleached paperboard manufacturing facility in May 2024; a benefit from purchased tax credits; discrete tax adjustments, including a tax benefit of $2 million related to excess tax benefits on RSUs that vested during the period; and the mix of earnings between foreign and domestic jurisdictions, including those with and without valuation allowances.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 8. Environmental and Legal Matters
Environmental Matters
The Company is subject to a broad range of foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those governing discharges to air, soil and water, the management, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances, solid waste and hazardous wastes, the investigation and remediation of contamination resulting from historical site operations and releases of hazardous substances, the recycling of packaging and the health and safety of employees. Compliance initiatives could result in significant costs, which could negatively impact the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Any failure to comply with environmental or health and safety laws and regulations or any permits and authorizations required thereunder could subject the Company to fines, corrective action or other sanctions.
Some of the Company's current and former facilities are the subject of environmental investigations and remediations resulting from historical operations and the release of hazardous substances or other constituents. Some current and former facilities have a history of industrial usage for which investigation and remediation obligations may be imposed in the future or for which indemnification claims may be asserted against the Company. Also, closures or sales of facilities may necessitate further investigation and may result in remediation activities at those facilities.
The Company has established reserves for those facilities or issues where a liability is probable and the costs are reasonably estimable. The Company believes that the amounts accrued for its loss contingencies, and the reasonably possible loss beyond the amounts accrued, are not material to the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company cannot estimate with certainty other future compliance, investigation or remediation costs. Some costs relating to historic usage that the Company considers to be reasonably possible of resulting in liability are not quantifiable at this time. The Company will continue to monitor environmental issues at each of its facilities, as well as regulatory developments, and will revise its accruals, estimates and disclosures relating to past, present and future operations, as additional information is obtained.
Legal Matters
The Company is a party to a number of lawsuits arising in the ordinary conduct of its business. Although the timing and outcome of these lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that disposition of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 9. Segment Information
The Company's reportable segments are described as follows:
Americas Paperboard Packaging includes paperboard packaging sold primarily to consumer packaged goods ("CPG") companies serving the food, beverage and consumer product markets and cups, lids and food containers sold primarily to foodservice companies and quick-service restaurants in the Americas.
International Paperboard Packaging includes paperboard packaging sold primarily to CPG companies serving the food, foodservice, beverage and consumer product markets, including healthcare and beauty, primarily in Europe.
The Company allocates internally sourced paperboard margin and corporate costs to the reportable segments to appropriately represent the economics of these segments. The Corporate and Other caption, which does not meet the criteria of a reportable segment, includes the unallocated corporate costs and the Paperboard Manufacturing operating segment. The effect of intercompany transfers to the paperboard packaging segments has been eliminated from the Corporate and Other caption to reflect the economics of the integration of these segments.
The Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), who is responsible for allocating resources, assessing performance of the operating segments and making strategic decisions, has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer. The evaluation of operating segment performance is based primarily on Income from Operations. Each segment maintains separate financial information, and the CODM evaluates the segments' operating results on a regular basis.
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The table below represents information for the Company's Reportable segments; amounts related to Corporate and Other are included for reconciliation purposes:
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 | ||||||||||||||
| In millions | Americas Paperboard Packaging | International Paperboard Packaging | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||
Net Sales(a) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Cost of Sales(b) | ||||||||||||||
Selling, General and Administrative(b) | ||||||||||||||
Other(c) | ||||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Operations | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ||||||||
| Other Segment Information | ||||||||||||||
Capital Spending | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | ||||||||||||||
(a) Revenue from sales of paperboard to third parties is reported within Corporate and Other.
(b) Cost of Sales and Selling, General and Administrative both include depreciation and amortization.
(c) Includes expenses related to business combinations, exit activities and other special charges for all segments presented (see Note 1. General Information).
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| In millions | Americas Paperboard Packaging | International Paperboard Packaging | Corporate and Other | Total | ||||||||||
Net Sales(a) | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
Cost of Sales(b) | ||||||||||||||
Selling, General and Administrative(b) | ||||||||||||||
Other(c) | ||||||||||||||
Income (Loss) from Operations | $ | $ | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||
| Other Segment Information | ||||||||||||||
Capital Spending | $ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | ||||||||||||||
(a) Revenue from sales of paperboard to third parties is reported within Corporate and Other.
(b) Cost of Sales and Selling, General and Administrative both include depreciation and amortization, while Cost of Sales also includes accelerated depreciation related to exit activities for all segments presented (see Note 12. Exit Activities).
(c) Includes expenses related to business combinations, exit activities and other special charges for all segments presented (see Note 1. General Information).
Total segment Income (Loss) from Operations is reconciled to (Loss) Income before Income Taxes as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
Income (Loss) from Operations: | ||||||||
Americas Paperboard Packaging | $ | $ | ||||||
International Paperboard Packaging | ( | |||||||
Total | $ | $ | ||||||
Corporate and Other | ( | ( | ||||||
| Interest Expense, Net | ( | ( | ||||||
| (Loss) Income before Income Taxes | $ | ( | $ | |||||
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 10. (Loss) Earnings Per Share
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| In millions, except per share data | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
| Weighted Average Shares: | ||||||||||||||
| Basic | ||||||||||||||
| Dilutive Effect of RSUs | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | ||||||||||||||
(Loss) Earnings Per Share - Basic | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
(Loss) Earnings Per Share - Diluted | $ | ( | $ | |||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, 1.5 million RSUs were excluded from the above calculation because they were anti-dilutive.
Note 11. Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following represents changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss attributable to Graphic Packaging Holding Company by component for the three months ended March 31, 2026:
| In millions, net of tax | Derivative Instruments | Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans | Currency Translation Adjustments | Total | ||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2025 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) before Reclassifications | ( | ( | ( | |||||||||||
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a) | ( | |||||||||||||
Net Current-period Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ( | ( | ||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2026 | $ | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
(a) See following table for details about these reclassifications.
The following details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss components represents reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2026:
| In millions | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Affected Line Item in the Statement Where Net Income is Presented | |||||||||
| Derivative Instruments: | |||||||||||
Commodity Contracts | $ | ( | Cost of Sales | ||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | |||||||||||
| $ | ( | Total, Net of Tax | |||||||||
Amortization of Defined Benefit Pension Plans: | |||||||||||
Actuarial Losses | $ | (a) | |||||||||
| $ | Total, Net of Tax | ||||||||||
Total Reclassifications for the Period | $ | Total, Net of Tax | |||||||||
(a) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 5. Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits).
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
Note 12. Exit Activities
During the first quarter of 2026, the Company decided to discontinue its project to build automated roll warehouses at its Kalamazoo, Michigan and Texarkana, Texas paperboard manufacturing facilities. This decision reflects a shift in operational priorities and the Company's focus on optimizing capital deployment and cost-management efforts. As a result of the cancellation of this project, the Company incurred charges of $40 million within Corporate and Other related to the write-off of assets, which were primarily equipment, site preparation and engineering costs for this project. The costs associated with this project are included in the table below for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
Also during the first quarter of 2026, the Company implemented additional cost and production optimization initiatives following its review of support functions and other expenses. These initiatives were incremental to the measures taken in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Company incurred $18 million within Corporate and Other of charges in the first quarter of 2026, primarily for severance, in addition to the $6 million incurred in the fourth quarter of 2025. These charges are included in the table below for the three months ended March 31, 2026.
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized a $13 million charge within the International Paperboard Packaging reportable segment to adjust certain held for sale assets to their estimated fair value. Current Assets and Current Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include $19 million and $6 million, respectively, primarily related to multiple paperboard manufacturing and packaging facilities and other related assets that met the held for sale criteria as of March 31, 2026. Current Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include $10 million primarily related to multiple paperboard manufacturing and packaging facilities that met the held for sale criteria as of December 31, 2025.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company commenced operations of its new recycled paperboard manufacturing facility located in Waco, Texas. From the project's announcement through completion, the Company incurred $55 million of start-up charges within Corporate and Other. No start-up charges were incurred in 2026 or after the facility became operational in the fourth quarter of 2025. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company incurred $7 million of start-up charges, which is included in the table below.
In connection with the Waco project, the Company closed its Middletown, Ohio recycled paperboard manufacturing facility in May 2025 and its East Angus, Québec recycled paperboard manufacturing facility in December 2025 to consolidate production into fewer, more efficient locations. The costs associated with these exit activities are included in Corporate and Other, are included in the table below for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company incurred charges of $4 million for accelerated depreciation, which is included in the table below.
During 2024, the Company decided to close multiple packaging facilities. Production from these facilities has been consolidated into other existing packaging facilities. The costs associated with these exit activities are included in Americas Paperboard Packaging and International Paperboard Packaging reportable segments and are included in the table below for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025. During three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized a gain of $4 million on the sale of an exited property, which is also included in the table below.
The following table summarizes the costs incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 related to these restructurings:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| In millions | Location in Statement of Operations | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||||
Asset Write-Offs and Start-Up Costs(a) | Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
Severance Costs and Other(b) | Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Items, Net | ||||||||||||||||
| Accelerated Depreciation | Cost of Sales | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
(a) Costs incurred include non-cash write-offs for items such as machinery, supplies and inventory, offset by the net gain recognized on the sale of an exited property.
(b) Costs incurred include activities for post-employment benefits, retention bonuses, incentives and professional services (see Note 1. Business Combinations, Exit Activities and Other Special Charges, Net).
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Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
The following table summarizes the balance of accrued expenses related to restructuring:
| In millions | Total | ||||
| Balance at December 31, 2025 | $ | ||||
Costs Incurred(a) | |||||
Payments(b) | ( | ||||
Adjustments(c) | ( | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2026 | $ | ||||
(a) Related to severance and benefits costs incurred in connection with the Company's cost and production optimization initiatives.
(b) Includes approximately $8 million of payments related to the closure of the Company's East Angus, Québec recycled paperboard manufacturing facility in December 2025 and approximately $3 million of payments related to other severance and benefits costs included in Corporate and Other.
(c) Adjustments related to changes in estimates of severance costs.
Note 13. Subsequent Events
On April 14, 2026, the Company drew the full amount of the $400 million of the Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan. The Delayed Draw Incremental Term Loan will mature on June 30, 2027. The Company used the proceeds to repay in full its 1.512 % Senior Secured Notes, which matured April 15, 2026. For more information see Note 3. Debt.
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Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Introduction
This management's discussion and analysis of financial conditions and results of operations is intended to assist you in understanding the Company's past performance, financial condition and prospects. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 along with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in and referred to within this report.
Overview of Business
Graphic Packaging is a leading global provider of consumer goods packaging made from renewable or recycled materials. The Company designs and manufactures sustainable packaging solutions including cartons, multipack cartons, trays, carriers and paperboard canisters, as well as cups and bowls, made primarily from recycled paperboard, unbleached paperboard and bleached paperboard. Paperboard used in its packaging solutions comes from wood fiber, a renewable resource, and from recovered (reused) fiber. Graphic Packaging's consumer packaging is designed to be recycled, and the Company works across the value chain to make it easier for people to recycle. With this focus, the Company plays an active role in support of the move to a more circular economy and a sustainable future for generations to come. Graphic Packaging's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of everyday consumer packaging is fundamental to the Company's strategy, goals and business purpose.
The Company serves a wide variety of consumer markets, from food and beverage, to foodservice, household products, beauty and health care. Graphic Packaging produces packaging solutions at over 100 locations in over 20 countries around the world, serving customers and brands ranging from local to multinational consumer products companies and retailers. The Company offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of packaging design, manufacturing and execution capabilities available. Graphic Packaging manufactures a significant amount of the paperboard that it uses to produce packaging solutions, primarily where it believes that self-manufacture provides it with a competitive advantage and allows the Company to deliver better, more consistent results for customers. The Company currently manufactures most of the paperboard it consumes in the Americas and purchases the majority of the paperboard it consumes in its International Paperboard Packaging operations from third parties.
Graphic Packaging works closely with its customers to understand their specifications and goals and to create new and innovative designs customized to their specific needs. The Company's approach serves to build and strengthen long-term relationships with purchasing, brand management, marketing and other key customer functions. The Company is organized to bring the full resources of its global and local innovation, design, and manufacturing capabilities to all of its customers with the goal of delivering packaging solutions that are more circular, more functional and more convenient.
The Company competes with a wide range of packaging companies whose primary raw materials are paperboard, plastic, multi-layer laminates, shrink film, paper, corrugated board, bio-based materials and other packaging materials. While circularity and sustainability are increasingly important to customers' purchase decisions, the Company also competes on the basis of product innovation, price and execution capabilities. Many of the Company's multi-year supply contracts include terms which provide for the pass through of certain costs including raw materials, energy, labor and other manufacturing costs with the intention of reducing exposure to the volatility of these costs, many of which are outside of the Company's control.
The Company is implementing strategies to (i) develop and market innovative packaging products and applications that benefit from consumer-led sustainability trends; (ii) expand market share in its current markets and to identify and penetrate new markets; (iii) capitalize on the Company's customer relationships, business competencies and manufacturing facilities; and (iv) continue to reduce costs and drive productivity through operational improvements. The Company's ability to fully implement its strategies and achieve its objectives may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond its control. Graphic Packaging cannot predict with any certainty the impact that rising interest rates, a global or regional recession or higher inflation may have on its customers or suppliers. Additionally, it is unable to predict the potential effects that any future pandemic or other global health emergency, widespread military and geopolitical conflicts, or other social and political unrest or change, including in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East and related sanctions or market disruptions, may have on its business.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
•In May 2025, the Company closed its Middletown, Ohio, recycled paperboard manufacturing facility.
•In December 2025, the Company closed its East Angus, Québec, recycled paperboard manufacturing facility.
•During 2024, the Company decided to close multiple packaging facilities. Production from these facilities has been consolidated into other existing packaging facilities. During three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized a gain of $4 million on the sale of an exited property.
Current Assets and Current Liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include $19 million and $6 million, respectively, primarily related to multiple paperboard manufacturing and packaging facilities and other related assets that met the held for sale criteria as of March 31, 2026. Current Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets include $10 million primarily related to multiple paperboard manufacturing and packaging facilities that met the held for sale criteria as of December 31, 2025.
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Results of Operations
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 2,156 | $ | 2,120 | ||||||||||
Income from Operations | 19 | 221 | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense, Net | (64) | (51) | ||||||||||||
(Loss) Income before Income Taxes | (45) | 170 | ||||||||||||
| Income Tax Benefit (Expense) | 2 | (43) | ||||||||||||
| Net (Loss) Income | $ | (43) | $ | 127 | ||||||||||
First Quarter 2026 Compared to First Quarter 2025
Net Sales
The components of the change in Net Sales are as follows:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variances | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2025 | Price/ Volume/ Mix | Exchange | 2026 | Increase | Percent Change | |||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated | $ | 2,120 | $ | (14) | $ | 50 | $ | 2,156 | $ | 36 | 2 | % | |||||||||||
The Company's Net Sales for the three months ended March 31, 2026 increased by $36 million, or 2%, to $2,156 million from $2,120 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, driven by higher volumes and a favorable foreign currency exchange of $50 million, partially offset by lower pricing of $32 million. Innovation sales growth was $42 million, driven by sales of the Company's sustainable consumer packaging solutions. Higher packaging sales in the food and health and beauty markets were partially offset by lower packaging sales in the foodservice and household markets, while packaging sales in the beverage market was relatively flat.
Income from Operations
Income from Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 decreased $202 million, or 91%, to $19 million from $221 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, due to lower pricing, weather, higher maintenance spend and production curtailment impacts, other inflation (primarily labor and benefits) of $21 million, and commodity inflation (including energy, logistics, chemicals and purchased materials, partially offset by wood and secondary fiber) of $16 million, partially offset by favorable foreign currency exchange of $3 million.
Income from Operations was also unfavorably impacted by $40 million of charges related to the Company's decision to discontinue its project to build automated roll warehouses at its Kalamazoo, Michigan and Texarkana, Texas paperboard manufacturing facilities. The Company also incurred $18 million of charges related to cost and production optimization initiatives, primarily for severance following its review of support functions and other expenses, and recognized $13 million of impairment charges related to adjusting certain held for sale assets to their estimated fair value. Income from Operations was favorably impacted by a reduction in accelerated depreciation related to the closures of several paperboard facilities of $4 million.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest Expense, Net was $64 million and $51 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. Interest Expense, Net increased primarily due to a decrease in capitalized interest due to the completion of the Waco project. The Company capitalized interest of $2 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. As of March 31, 2026, approximately 31% of the Company's total debt was subject to floating interest rates.
Income Tax Expense
During the three months ended March 31, 2026, the Company recognized Income Tax Benefits of $2 million on Loss before Income Taxes of $45 million. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2026 is different from the statutory rate primarily due to the discrete tax impact of the charges associated with the adjustment of certain held for sale assets to their estimated fair value that results in no corresponding tax benefit. The Company also recorded discrete tax adjustments including $2 million for a tax shortfall related to restricted stock units ("RSUs") that vested during the period and $2 million for the establishment of a valuation allowance against certain net deferred tax assets in the Netherlands. Additionally, the Company's effective tax rate is impacted by the mix of earnings between foreign and domestic jurisdictions, including those with and without valuation allowances.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company recognized Income Tax Expense of $43 million on Income before Income Taxes of $170 million. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025 is different from the statutory rate primarily due to discrete tax adjustments including a tax benefit of $2 million related to excess tax benefits on restricted stock that vested during the period in addition to the mix of earnings between foreign and domestic jurisdictions, including those with and without valuation allowances.
Segment Reporting
The Company's reportable segments are described as follows:
Americas Paperboard Packaging includes paperboard packaging sold primarily to consumer packaged goods ("CPG") companies serving the food, beverage and consumer product markets and cups, lids and food containers sold primarily to foodservice companies and quick-service restaurants in the Americas.
International Paperboard Packaging includes paperboard packaging sold primarily to CPG companies serving the food, foodservice, beverage and consumer product markets, including healthcare and beauty, primarily in Europe.
The Company allocates internally sourced paperboard margin and corporate costs to the reportable segments to appropriately represent the economics of these segments. The Corporate and Other caption, which does not meet the criteria of a reportable segment, includes the unallocated corporate costs and the Paperboard Manufacturing operating segment. The effect of intercompany transfers to the paperboard packaging segments has been eliminated from the Corporate and Other caption to reflect the economics of the integration of these segments.
The Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker evaluates each segment based primarily on Income from Operations. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 1. General Information in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net Sales: | ||||||||||||||
| Americas Paperboard Packaging | $ | 1,464 | $ | 1,476 | ||||||||||
| International Paperboard Packaging | 563 | 523 | ||||||||||||
Corporate/Other/Eliminations(a) | 129 | 121 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,156 | $ | 2,120 | ||||||||||
| Income (Loss) from Operations: | ||||||||||||||
Americas Paperboard Packaging(b)(c) | $ | 130 | $ | 228 | ||||||||||
International Paperboard Packaging(c) | (2) | 40 | ||||||||||||
Corporate and Other(b)(c) | (109) | (47) | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 19 | $ | 221 | ||||||||||
(a) Includes revenue from the sale of paperboard to third parties.
(b) Includes accelerated depreciation related to exit activities in 2025. See Note 12. Exit Activities in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
(c) Includes expenses related to business combinations, exit activities and other special items. See Note 1. General Information in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
2026 Compared to 2025
First Quarter 2026 Compared to First Quarter 2025
Americas Paperboard Packaging
Net Sales decreased due to lower pricing, partially offset by innovation sales growth driven by conversions to the Company's sustainable consumer packaging solutions and favorable foreign currency exchange. Lower packaging sales in the foodservice, household and beverage markets were partially offset by higher packaging sales in the food market.
Income from Operations decreased due to lower pricing, higher commodity cost and other inflation (primarily labor and benefits), mix, weather, higher maintenance spend, and production curtailment impacts offset by cost savings from continuous improvement and other programs and productivity improvements.
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International Paperboard Packaging
Net Sales increased due to favorable foreign currency exchange, innovation sales growth driven by conversions to the Company's sustainable consumer packaging solutions and mix, partially offset by lower pricing. Higher packaging sales were in the food, beverage and health and beauty markets, while packaging sales in the foodservice and household markets were relatively flat.
Income from Operations decreased due to lower pricing, higher commodity cost and other inflation (primarily labor and benefits), partially offset by favorable foreign currency exchange and cost savings from continuous improvement and other programs, including benefits from capital projects, and productivity improvements. Income from Operations was also unfavorably impacted by $13 million of impairment charges related to adjusting certain held for sale assets to their estimated fair value.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company broadly defines liquidity as its ability to generate sufficient funds from both internal and external sources to meet its obligations and commitments. In addition, liquidity includes the ability to obtain appropriate debt and equity financing and to convert those assets that are no longer required to meet existing strategic and financial objectives into cash. Therefore, liquidity cannot be considered separately from capital resources that consist of current or potentially available funds for use in achieving long-range business objectives and meeting debt service commitments.
Cash Flows
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net Cash Used in Operating Activities | $ | (113) | $ | (174) | ||||
| Net Cash Used in Investing Activities | (97) | (298) | ||||||
| Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities | 138 | 439 | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2026 totaled $113 million compared to $174 million for the same period in 2025. The improvement was driven by a lower use of working capital in the current year. Pension contributions for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 were $2 million.
Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2026 totaled $97 million compared to $298 million for the same period in 2025. The Company had capital spending of $140 million ($96 million was capitalized, of which $82 million was for adding capacity and improving process capabilities, $8 million for capital spares and $6 million for manufacturing packaging machinery) and $313 million ($215 million was capitalized) in 2026 and 2025, respectively. Capital spending decreased compared to prior year due to the completion of a significant portion of the Waco, Texas recycled paperboard facility in the fourth quarter of 2025, which drove elevated capital spending in the prior period. Net cash receipts related to the accounts receivable securitization and sale programs were $45 million and $28 million in 2026 and 2025, respectively.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2026 totaled $138 million compared to $439 million for the same period in 2025. Current year activities also include borrowings under revolving credit facilities, primarily for capital spending, and payments on debt of $5 million. The Company also paid dividends of $32 million and withheld $4 million of RSUs to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the payout of RSUs. Prior year financing activities included borrowings made under revolving credit facilities, primarily for capital spending, and payments on debt of $3 million. The Company also paid dividends and distributions of $30 million and withheld $27 million of RSUs to satisfy tax withholding payments related to the payout of RSUs.
Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information
As discussed in Note 3. Debt in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Senior Notes issued by Graphic Packaging International, LLC, the primary operating subsidiary of the Company ("GPIL") are guaranteed by Graphic Packaging International Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("GPIP") and certain domestic subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), which consist of all material 100% owned subsidiaries of GPIL other than its foreign subsidiaries and foreign subsidiary holding companies. GPIL's remaining subsidiaries (the "Nonguarantor Subsidiaries") include all of GPIL's foreign subsidiaries, foreign subsidiary holding companies and immaterial domestic subsidiaries. The Subsidiary Guarantors are jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally liable under the guarantees.
Because Graphic Packaging Holding Company ("GPHC") and GPIP have no independent assets or operations other than ownership of GPIL, the results of operations, assets and liabilities for GPHC and GPIL are substantially the same. The summarized financial information below is presented on a combined basis, consisting of the Issuer (GPIL) and Subsidiary Guarantors, and is presented after the elimination of: (i) intercompany transactions and balances among the Issuer and Subsidiary Guarantors, and (ii) equity in earnings from and investments in the Nonguarantor Subsidiaries.
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| In millions | Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 | |||||||
| Summarized Statements of Operations | ||||||||
Net Sales(a) | $ | 1,628 | ||||||
| Cost of Sales | 1,394 | |||||||
Income from Operations | 19 | |||||||
| Net Income | (41) | |||||||
(a) Includes Net Sales to Nonguarantor Subsidiaries of $160 million.
| In millions | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Summarized Balance Sheets | ||||||||
| Current Assets (excluding intercompany receivable from Nonguarantor Subsidiaries) | $ | 1,576 | $ | 1,569 | ||||
| Noncurrent Assets | 6,929 | 6,967 | ||||||
| Intercompany receivables from Nonguarantor Subsidiaries | 290 | 222 | ||||||
| Current Liabilities | 1,645 | 1,739 | ||||||
| Noncurrent Liabilities | 6,060 | 5,885 | ||||||
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company expects its material cash requirements for the next nine months will be for: capital spending, periodic required income tax payments, periodic interest and debt service payments on associated debt, as discussed in Note 5. Debt of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, lease agreements which have fixed lease payment obligations, as discussed in Note 6. Leases of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and minimum purchase commitments as discussed in Note 13. Commitments of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, along with ongoing operating costs, working capital, share repurchases and dividend payments. The Company expects its primary sources of liquidity to be cash flows from sales and operating activities in the normal course of operations and availability from its revolving credit facilities, as needed. The Company expects that these sources will be sufficient to fund ongoing cash requirements for the foreseeable future, including at least the next twelve months.
Principal and interest payments under the term loan facilities and the revolving credit facilities, together with principal and interest payments on the Company's 4.00% Green Bonds due 2026, 5.00% Green Bonds due 2030, 1.512% Senior Notes due 2026, 4.75% Senior Notes due 2027, 3.50% Senior Notes due 2028, 3.50% Senior Notes due 2029, 2.625% Senior Notes due 2029, 3.75% Senior Notes due 2030 and 6.375% Senior Notes due 2032 (the "Notes"), represent liquidity requirements for the Company. Based upon current levels of operations, anticipated cost savings and expectations as to future growth, the Company believes that cash generated from operations, together with amounts available under its revolving credit facilities and other available financing sources, will be adequate to permit the Company to meet its debt service obligations, necessary capital spending program requirements and ongoing operating costs and working capital needs, although no assurance can be given in this regard. The Company's future financial and operating performance, ability to service or refinance its debt and ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in its debt agreements (see Covenant Restrictions below) will be subject to future economic conditions, including conditions in the credit markets, and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and will be substantially dependent on the selling prices and demand for the Company's products, raw material and energy costs and the Company's ability to successfully implement its overall business and profitability strategies.
Accounts receivable are stated at the amount owed by the customer, net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts, returns and allowances, and cash discounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on historical experience, current economic conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and the creditworthiness of customers. Receivables are charged to the allowance when determined to be no longer collectible.
The Company engages with third-party financial institutions to sell certain trade accounts receivable from customers. Transfers under these agreements meet the requirements to be accounted for as sales of receivables in accordance with the Transfers and Servicing topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification (the "Codification"). The receivables sold are reflected as a reduction of accounts receivable on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at the time of sale. The corresponding proceeds are reflected in Cash Flows from Operating Activities within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Receivables related to the Company's European program are sold in exchange for cash and a Beneficial Interest, therefore, a portion of the proceeds are reflected as "Beneficial Interest on Sold Receivables" and "Beneficial Interest Obtained in Exchange for Proceeds" in Cash Flows from Investing Activities within the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The loss on sale for all programs is included in Other Expense, Net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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The following table summarizes the activity under these programs for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
| In millions | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
Receivables Sold and Derecognized | $ | 932 | $ | 876 | ||||
| Proceeds Collected on Behalf of Financial Institutions | 897 | 872 | ||||||
| Net Proceeds Paid to Financial Institutions | (9) | (52) | ||||||
Deferred Purchase Price at March 31(a) | 22 | 17 | ||||||
| Pledged Receivables at March 31 | 155 | 157 | ||||||
(a) Included in Other Current Assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets and represents a beneficial interest in the receivables sold to the financial institutions, which is a Level 3 fair value measure.
Receivables sold under all programs subject to continuing involvement, which consists principally of collection services, were $847 million and $814 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
The Company also participates in supply chain financing arrangements offered by certain customers that qualify for sale accounting in accordance with the Transfers and Servicing topic of the FASB Codification. For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, the Company sold receivables of $271 million and $262 million, respectively, related to these arrangements.
The fees associated with the sale of receivables for all programs were $13 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively, and are included in Other Expense, Net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company has arranged a supplier finance program ("SFP") with a financial intermediary, which provides certain suppliers the option to be paid by the financial intermediary earlier than the due date on the applicable invoice. The transactions are at the sole discretion of both the suppliers and financial institution, and the Company is not a party to the agreements and has no economic interest in the supplier's decision to sell a receivable. The range of payment terms negotiated by the Company with its suppliers is consistent, irrespective of whether a supplier participates in the program. The agreement with the financial intermediary does not require the Company to provide assets pledged as security or other forms of guarantees for the SFP. Amounts due to suppliers that elected to participate in the SFP are included in Accounts Payable on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and payments made under the SFP are reflected in Cash Flows from Operating Activities in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Accounts Payable included $28 million and $27 million to suppliers who elected to participate in the SFP as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.
Covenant Restrictions
Covenants contained in the Company's Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 3, 2024 (as amended by Amendment No. 1 on February 26, 2026, the "Credit Agreement") and the Indentures may, among other things, limit the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness, dispose of assets, incur guarantee obligations, prepay other indebtedness, repurchase shares, pay dividends and make other restricted payments, create liens, make equity or debt investments, make acquisitions, modify terms of the Indentures under which the Notes are issued, engage in mergers or consolidations, change the business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries and engage in certain transactions with affiliates. Such restrictions, as well as disruptions in the credit markets, could limit the Company's ability to respond to changing market conditions, fund its capital spending program, provide for unexpected capital investments or take advantage of business opportunities.
Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company must comply with a maximum Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio covenant and a minimum Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio covenant.
On February 26, 2026, the Company, GPIP, GPIL, and certain subsidiaries of GPIL entered into Amendment No. 1 (the "Amendment") to the Credit Agreement to increase the maximum Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio from March 31, 2026 to December 31, 2026 to 5.00 to 1.00 and from March 31, 2027 to June 30, 2027 to 4.75 to 1.00. The Amendment also incorporates an additional pricing tier when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 4.75 to 1.00; limits share repurchases to $65 million on an annual basis; and places additional restrictions on acquisitions and investments in nonguarantor subsidiaries during the period commencing on February 26, 2026 and ending on September 30, 2027.
At March 31, 2026, the Company was in compliance with such covenant and the ratio was 4.18 to 1.00.
The Company must also comply with a minimum Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio of 3.00 to 1.00. At March 31, 2026, the Company was in compliance with such covenant and the ratio was 5.48 to 1.00.
As of March 31, 2026, the Company's credit was rated BB by Standard & Poor's and Ba1 by Moody's Investor Services. Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investor Services' ratings on the Company included a stable outlook.
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Environmental Matters
Some of the Company's current and former facilities are the subject of environmental investigations and remediations resulting from historical operations and the release of hazardous substances or other constituents. Some current and former facilities have a history of industrial usage for which investigation and remediation obligations may be imposed in the future or for which indemnification claims may be asserted against the Company. Also, closures or sales of facilities may necessitate further investigation and may result in remediation at those facilities. The Company has established reserves for those facilities or issues where a liability is probable and the costs are reasonably estimable. The Company believes that the amounts accrued for its loss contingencies, and the reasonably possible loss beyond the amounts accrued, are not material to the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
For further discussion of the Company's environmental matters, see Note 8. Environmental and Legal Matters in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known. The critical accounting policies used by management in the preparation of the Company's Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are those that are important both to the presentation of the Company's financial condition and results of operations and require significant judgments by management with regard to estimates used.
The Company's most critical accounting policies, which require significant judgment or involve complex estimations, are described in the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The Company performed its annual goodwill impairment tests as of October 1, 2025. The Company concluded that all reporting units with goodwill have a fair value that exceeds their carrying value, and thus goodwill was not impaired. Excess fair value over carrying value was approximately 2% for the International reporting unit and 18% for the Foodservice reporting unit. No other reporting units had excess fair value over carrying value below 20%. The International reporting unit and the Foodservice reporting unit had goodwill totaling $525 million and $84 million at March 31, 2026, respectively.
The variability of the assumptions that management uses to perform the goodwill impairment test depends on a number of conditions, including uncertainty about future events and cash flows. Accordingly, the Company's accounting estimates may materially change from period to period due to changing market factors. If the Company had used other assumptions and estimates or if different conditions occur in future periods, future operating results and cash flows could be materially impacted, and judgments and conclusions about the recoverability of goodwill could change. The assumptions used in the goodwill impairment testing process could also be adversely impacted by certain of the risks disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and thus could result in future goodwill impairment charges. The Company continuously monitors events which could trigger an interim impairment analysis, such as changing business conditions, our financial performance and our market capitalization. The Company determined there were no triggering events requiring an interim impairment analysis during the three months ended March 31, 2026.
New Accounting Standards
For a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements impacting the Company, see Note 1. General Information in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
For a discussion of certain market risks related to the Company, see Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk, in the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. There have been no significant developments with respect to derivatives or exposure to market risk during the three months ended March 31, 2026. For a discussion of the Company's Financial Instruments, Derivatives and Hedging Activities, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources."
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2026 due to the material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting described below.
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Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company's annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The Company did not design and maintain effective controls for communicating and sharing certain information with the Board of Directors. Specifically, there is a lack of transparency related to certain capital expenditures, which resulted in the Company exceeding the delegation of authority for certain capital projects as well as the annual Board-approved capital expenditure limits. The material weakness enabled certain former members of the Company's senior management to not obtain authorization from the Board of Directors related to certain capital expenditures, but did not result in a misstatement to the Company's consolidated financial statements. However, this material weakness could result in unauthorized capital expenditures that would not be prevented or detected.
Plan to Remediate the Material Weakness
During the quarter, the Company developed and continues to implement remediation initiatives. These actions include improved controls, policies, procedures and training related to communication and information sharing with the Board of Directors by Senior Management. The material weakness will not be considered remediated until management has completed the design and implementation of the applicable controls and they operate for a sufficient period of time for management to conclude, through testing, that controls are operating effectively.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2026 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
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Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company is a party to a number of lawsuits arising in the ordinary conduct of its business. Although the timing and outcome of these lawsuits cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that disposition of these lawsuits will have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 8. Environmental and Legal Matters in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company's 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The Company purchases shares of its common stock from time to time pursuant to the 2025 and 2023 share repurchase programs announced on April 30, 2025, and July 27, 2023, respectively. Management was authorized to repurchase up to $1.5 billion and $500 million of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock per the 2025 and 2023 share repurchase programs, respectively. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. As of March 31, 2026, 84.2 million shares had been repurchased as part of a publicly announced program. The maximum number of additional shares that may be purchased under the 2025 and 2023 share repurchase programs in the future is 172.5 million based on the closing price of the Company's common stock as of March 31, 2026.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
During the quarter ended March 31, 2026, no director or officer adopted terminated
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Item 6. Exhibits
| Exhibit Number | Description | ||||
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a). | ||||
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a). | ||||
| 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code. | ||||
| 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code. | ||||
| 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. | ||||
| 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | ||||
| 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | ||||
| 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | ||||
| 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | ||||
| 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | ||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document (included in Exhibit 101). | ||||
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
(Registrant)
| /s/ Charles D. Lischer | Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | May 5, 2026 | ||||||
| Charles D. Lischer | ||||||||
35
FAQ
How did Graphic Packaging (GPK) perform financially in Q1 2026?
Graphic Packaging reported Q1 2026 net sales of $2,156 million, up 2% year over year, but income from operations fell to $19 million from $221 million. After higher interest expense and special charges, the company posted a net loss of $43 million, versus $127 million profit.
What drove Graphic Packaging’s net loss in Q1 2026?
The $43 million net loss primarily reflects sharply lower operating income and significant special charges. The company recorded $71 million in business combinations, exit and other special items, including $40 million for discontinued automated warehouses, $18 million for cost optimization, and $13 million of asset impairments.
How are Graphic Packaging’s sales and pricing trends in Q1 2026?
Net sales rose $36 million to $2,156 million, a 2% increase, driven by higher volumes, $42 million of innovation sales growth and favorable foreign currency. This was partially offset by $32 million of lower pricing, with mixed demand across food, beverage, foodservice, household and beauty markets.
What is Graphic Packaging’s leverage and covenant headroom as of March 31, 2026?
As of March 31, 2026, Graphic Packaging’s Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio was 4.18 to 1.00, below the amended maximum of 5.00 to 1.00 through December 31, 2026. The Consolidated Interest Expense Ratio was 5.48 to 1.00, above the minimum 3.00 to 1.00, indicating current covenant compliance.
How did cash flow and capital spending change for Graphic Packaging in Q1 2026?
Net cash used in operating activities improved to $113 million from $174 million, mainly due to lower working capital use. Net cash used in investing activities declined to $97 million from $298 million, as capital spending dropped to $140 million from $313 million after completing most work on the Waco, Texas facility.
What restructuring and exit activities did Graphic Packaging undertake in Q1 2026?
The company discontinued automated roll warehouse projects at two mills, incurring $40 million of asset write-offs, and implemented additional cost and production optimization initiatives with $18 million of mainly severance charges. It also recorded a $13 million impairment to adjust certain held-for-sale assets to estimated fair value.