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Karat Packaging Inc (KRT) AI Stock Analysis

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KRT

Karat Packaging Inc

(NASDAQ:KRT)

Select Model
Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:$59.00â–²(13.09% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:08/09/26

The score is primarily driven by strong financial performance—delevered balance sheet (zero debt), improved profitability, and stronger free cash flow. This is tempered by stretched technical conditions (overbought momentum) and a valuation that is only partly offset by a high dividend yield. Earnings-call details also reduce the score due to the reliance on a one-time tariff refund and guidance implying a near-term margin step-down.

Positive Factors
Debt-free balance sheetThe elimination of debt materially strengthens Karat’s financial flexibility and reduces interest and refinancing exposure. A debt-free balance sheet can support distribution-center investment, shareholder returns, and resilience if foodservice demand or operating margins weaken over the next several quarters.
Negative Factors
Dependence on a nonrecurring tariff refundA substantial portion of Q2’s exceptional margin, earnings, and cash-flow performance came from a one-time tariff refund rather than recurring product economics. With insignificant refunds expected in Q3, reported results may normalize sharply and make the underlying profitability profile less impressive.

Karat Packaging Inc (KRT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-25%0%25%50%75%100%125%150%KRT+132.11%SPY+12.53%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$1.04B
Dividend Yield
3.49%
Average Volume (3M)
164.49K
Price to Earnings (P/E)
20.8
Beta (1Y)
0.91
Revenue Growth
11.62%
EPS Growth
57.06%
Country
US
Employees
666
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
Sector Strength
61
Industry
Packaging & Containers

Karat Packaging Inc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Karat Packaging Inc. is a company dedicated to the manufacturing and distribution of various single-use consumables. These items, crafted from materials such as traditional plastics, paper, and environmentally friendly biopolymer-based or other compo...

How the Company Makes Money

Karat Packaging makes money mainly by selling disposable foodservice packaging and supplies to foodservice businesses (e.g., restaurants and beverage concepts) and other commercial customers. Its core revenue stream is product sales across a wide cat...

Karat Packaging Inc Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2026(Q2-2026)|% Change Since:24.36%|Next Earnings Date:Nov 04, 2026
Earnings Call SentimentNeutral

The call presented a mix of solid operational momentum—record sales, strong online growth, expanded customer wins, distribution center investment, sourcing diversification and improved reported profitability—largely amplified by a significant one-time IEEPA tariff refund. Underlying metrics (gross margin excluding refund, rising product/import and shipping costs, retail channel decline and higher operating expenses) temper the headline results. Management provided conservative near-term margin guidance reflecting minimal expected refunds and highlighted actions to control shipping and SG&A costs.

Positive Updates

Record Quarterly Net Sales
Net sales of $136.3 million in Q2 2026, up 9.9% year over year from $124.0 million, driven by volume, product mix and pricing.

Negative Updates

Heavy Dependence on One-Time IEEPA Tariff Refunds
A $25.8 million IEEPA tariff refund materially drove Q2 results (added ~1,890 bps to gross margin and ~$1.00 to diluted EPS). Management expects insignificant IEEPA refunds in Q3, meaning reported margins are not fully repeatable.

Company Guidance

Management updated 3Q26 guidance calling for net sales to grow in the low double‑digit range year‑over‑year, gross margin of 35.0%–37.0% and adjusted EBITDA margin of 9.0%–11.0% (both including only insignificant IEEPA tariff refunds expected in the quarter); for full‑year 2026 they expect net sales to grow in the low double‑digit range, full‑year gross margin in the low‑40% range and adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately the mid‑teens (reflecting IEEPA refunds recorded in H1); management also reiterated online sales are on track for roughly $100 million this year and emphasized continued cost‑management to drive operating leverage.

Karat Packaging Inc Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Financials are strong overall: profitability stepped up in TTM with ~40% gross margin and ~10% net margin, net income rising to ~$50M, and materially improved free cash flow (~$53M) with solid earnings conversion. The balance sheet is a major positive with zero total debt and strong ROE (~32%). Key offsets are modest recent revenue growth (~2.6%) and cash conversion vs EBITDA remaining below 1.0, suggesting potential working-capital timing drag.

Income Statement

82Very Positive

Balance Sheet

88Very Positive

Cash Flow

79Positive
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue493.38M467.74M422.63M405.65M422.96M364.24M
Gross Profit199.79M172.14M164.33M153.04M132.09M107.83M
EBITDA93.72M66.19M61.12M60.78M48.76M40.48M
Net Income50.21M31.48M29.98M32.47M23.65M20.78M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets316.81M287.69M294.52M276.40M252.18M207.60M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments54.14M37.88M59.93M49.42M16.04M6.48M
Total Debt72.72M79.86M92.87M71.00M58.65M36.52M
Total Liabilities142.54M130.82M132.32M113.71M100.24M75.57M
Stockholders Equity166.47M149.42M155.57M154.12M141.68M122.90M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow50.81M29.31M43.91M44.05M14.73M-3.70M
Operating Cash Flow56.68M33.81M47.98M53.38M29.47M8.68M
Investing Cash Flow5.81M24.14M-5.86M-30.17M-17.84M-13.28M
Financing Cash Flow-54.64M-51.66M-33.62M-16.17M-2.07M10.64M

Karat Packaging Inc Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNeutral
Last Price52.17

Price Trends

50DMA51.72Positive
100DMA44.98Positive
200DMA35.57Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.42Positive
RSI45.21Neutral
STOCH22.52Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KRT, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 52.17 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 53.77, above the 50-day MA of 51.72, and above the 200-day MA of 35.57, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.42 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 45.21 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 22.52 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for KRT.

Karat Packaging Inc Risk Analysis

Karat Packaging Inc disclosed 55 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Karat Packaging Inc reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

0 New Risks

Karat Packaging Inc Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)

Financial Indicators

KRT against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
KRTKRT77Outperform$1.06B20.7832.51%3.49%11.62%57.06%
SLGNSLGN72Outperform$4.50B16.7411.09%2.00%4.48%-16.03%
AMCRAMCR65Neutral$22.66B17.559.49%5.54%56.62%32.08%
Sector *61Neutral$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
GPKGPK50Neutral$2.76B45.242.27%3.89%0.35%-85.33%
AMBPAMBP48Neutral$2.83B52.95-7.98%8.73%17.04%―
SONSON45Neutral$4.96B-23.14-6.12%4.38%3.56%-11673.60%

* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-50%0%50%100%KRTGPKSLGNSONAMCRAMBPDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
KRT and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
KRTKarat Packaging, Inc.52.1728.42119.67%
GPKGraphic Packaging Holding11.31-5.02-30.73%
SLGNSilgan41.512.977.70%
SONSonoco Products Company48.839.6724.70%
AMCRAmcor46.968.9223.46%
AMBPArdagh Metal Packaging S.A.4.581.3843.08%

Karat Packaging Inc Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividends

Karat Packaging Raises Quarterly Dividend, Signals Confidence

Positive
Aug 5, 2026

On August 4, 2026, Karat Packaging Inc.’s board of directors approved an increase in the company’s regular quarterly cash dividend to $0.47 per share on its common stock, representing a 4.4 percent or $0.02 per share raise over the prior...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Aug 08, 2026