Karat Packaging Inc.

Karat Packaging Inc.

KRTยทNASDAQ

$26.62

-2.9%
Consumer CyclicalPackaging & Containers

Karat Packaging Inc. manufactures and distributes single-use disposable products in plastic, paper, biopolymer-based, and other compostable forms used in various restaurant and foodservice settings. It provides food and take-out containers, bags, tableware, cups, lids, cutlery, straws, specialty beverage ingredients, equipment, gloves, and other products under the Karat Earth brand. The company offers its products to domestic and regional distributors, restaurant chains, retail establishments, and online customers. It also provides new product development, design, printing, and logistics services. Karat Packaging Inc. was founded in 2000 and is based in Chino, California.

At a Glance

Live Snapshot
Market Cap$531.43M
EPS1.5700
P/E Ratio16.96
Earnings Date08/06/2026

Intrinsic Alpha Methodology

Thesis Lenses

Signal ยท Driver ยท Risk

Signal

High confidence

Valuation multiple is mid-range (P/E 17.0).

Valuation inputs: P/E 17.0, earnings yield +5.9%, momentum -2.9%.

If multiples stay elevated while momentum fades, downside repricing risk rises.

Driver

High confidence

Return profile is strong (ROE +21.1%, ROIC +12.9%).

Profitability stack: net margin +6.7%, ROE +21.1%, ROIC +12.9%.

Quality deterioration often appears in margins before it shows up in headline EPS.

Risk

High confidence

Risk profile is balanced but has notable pressure points to monitor.

Risk factors: liabilities/assets +45.5%, momentum -2.9%, net margin +6.7%.

Higher leverage with weak momentum and thin margins can amplify drawdown severity.

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Karat Packaging Inc. Market vs Earnings Trajectory

KRT ยท NASDAQ

Loading price and EPS data...

Karat Packaging Inc.

Karat Packaging Inc. Fair Value Envelope

KRT ยท NASDAQ

Our analysis suggests that KRT has a fair value of HIDDEN per share in the Base Case projection. With shares currently trading at $26.62, this represents a potential HIDDEN relative to our calculated worth for Karat Packaging Inc..

Intrinsic Value
Current Price: $26.62
3Y+32.0%
5Y+37.0%
10Y+648.0%
3Y+11.0%
5Y+58.0%
10Y+234.0%
3Y+33.0%
5Y+80.0%
10Y+592.0%
3Y+15.0%
5Y+132.0%
10Y+3275.0%
3Y+99.0%
5Y-234.0%
10Y-750.0%
3Y+14.0%
5Y+59.0%
10Y+349.0%
Karat Packaging Inc.

Karat Packaging Inc. Profit Bridge

KRT ยท NASDAQ
Revenue467.74M
Cost of Goods Sold (295.61M)
Gross Profit172.14M
Operating Expenses (131.22M)
Operating Income41.13M
Interest Expense (2.06M)
Other Income/Expense1.89M
Pretax Income43.02M
Income Tax (10.36M)
Net Income31.48M
Net Income
31.48M

Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin

36.8%

Strong gross margins indicate healthy pricing and efficient production or service delivery.

Operating Margin

8.8%

Acceptable margins but limited operational leverage. Operating expense control is important.

Net Profit Margin

6.7%

Moderate profitability with room for improvement. Monitor interest expenses and tax efficiency.

Effective Tax Rate

24.1%

Moderate tax rate typical for most corporations. Represents standard tax burden on profits.

Profitability Insight

Margin squeeze alert: Healthy gross margins but weak operating margins suggest excessive operating expenses. Cost optimization could unlock significant value.

36.80%
Gross Profit Margin
-5%
3Y+18.0%
5Y+22.0%
10Y+25.0%
8.79%
Operating Profit Margin
-2%
3Y+24.0%
5Y-6.0%
10Y+105.0%
6.73%
Net Profit Margin
-5%
3Y+20.0%
5Y+14.0%
10Y+107.0%
21.07%
Return on Equity
9%
3Y+26.0%
5Y-61.0%
10Y-50.0%
10.94%
Return on Assets
8%
3Y+17.0%
5Y+13.0%
10Y+54.0%
12.88%
Return on Invested Capital
16%
3Y+18.0%
5Y-8.0%
10Y-5.0%
KRT

Karat Packaging Inc. Cash Conversion Engine

KRT ยท NASDAQ
Net Income0.00
Depreciation & Amortization0.00
Stock-Based Compensation0.00
Change in Working Capital-24.12M
Others57.94M
Capital Expenditures-4.50M
Free Cash Flow29.31M

Cash Flow Quality Analysis

CapEx Intensity

13.3%

Asset-light business model. Low capital requirements leave more cash available for shareholders and growth investments.

FCF Growth Trend

-33.3%

Significant FCF decline raises concerns. Urgent review needed of operational performance and capital allocation.

Working Capital Impact

-$24.12M

Significant working capital drain. Growth may be consuming cash through inventory buildup or receivables extensionโ€”monitor closely.

Cash Flow Quality Insight

Deteriorating cash generation: Both declining FCF and weak conversion rate signal fundamental challenges. Investigate margin pressure, rising costs, or working capital issues.

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Karat Packaging Inc. Funding & Solvency Profile

KRT ยท NASDAQ
Cash & Cash Equivalents28.68M
Net Receivables42.27M
Inventory80.01M
Other Current Assets0.00
Total Current Assets157 M
Property, Plant & Equipment0.00
Goodwill & Intangible Assets0.00
Long-Term Investments0.00
Other Non-Current Assets0.00
Total Non-Current Assets0
Total Assets
282.68M

Financial Health Analysis

Current Ratio

2.23x

Excellent liquidity position. The company can easily cover its short-term obligations with substantial cushion.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio

0.82x

Balanced capital structure with moderate leverage. Equity exceeds debt, suggesting healthy financial stability.

Working Capital

86 M

Strong working capital position provides significant operational flexibility and financial cushion.

Asset Composition

55% Current

Balanced asset mix between current and non-current assets, typical of many stable businesses.

Financial Health Insight

Strong financial foundation: Excellent liquidity combined with conservative leverage suggests the company is well-positioned to weather economic uncertainties and fund growth opportunities.

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Karat Packaging Inc. Street Expectations Map

KRT ยท NASDAQ

Wall Street analysts project that KRT stock may rise significantly over the coming 12 months. The consensus 1-year price target stands at 31.50, with estimates ranging from a low of 24.00 to a high of 39.00.

Lowest Target
24.00
-9.84%
Consensus Target
31.50
18.33%
Highest Target
39.00
46.51%

The consensus 1-year price target stands at 31.50, with estimates ranging from a low of 24.00 to a high of 39.00.

Analyst Consensus Analysis

Upside Potential

+18.3%

Strong upside potential. Consensus indicates attractive return opportunity with favorable risk-reward profile.

Analyst Agreement

47.6% spread

Mixed analyst views. Wide target range suggests differing opinions on key value drivers, growth prospects, or risk factors.

Risk-Reward Profile

4.73x

Favorable risk-reward. Potential upside significantly exceeds downside risk, offering asymmetric return profile attractive for risk-tolerant investors.

Analyst Conviction

Moderate

Neutral sentiment. Fair value pricing with moderate agreement suggests wait-and-see approach or catalyst-driven opportunity.

Market Sentiment Insight

Asymmetric upside: Strong return potential with favorable risk-reward profile. The limited downside relative to upside makes this an attractive risk-adjusted opportunity for growth-oriented portfolios.

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Karat Packaging Inc. Insider Positioning

KRT ยท NASDAQ

During the last 12 months, insiders have purchased $30K and sold $46.62M worth of KRT shares, resulting in $46.59M of net selling activity.

3 Months

Bought

0

0.00

Sold

0

0.00

Net Activity

+0

+$0

3-6 Months

Bought

0

0.00

Sold

0

0.00

Net Activity

+0

+$0

6-9 Months

Bought

1.4K

30.09K

Sold

0

0.00

Net Activity

+30K

+$30K

9-12 Months

Bought

0

0.00

Sold

1.7M

46.62M

Net Activity

-46.6M

-$46.62M

Top Buyers

1
GJ

Guo Jian

Director, Officer: Chief Financial Officer

1.4K sharesโ€ข1 transactions

$30K

Top Sellers

1
CM

Cheng Marvin

10 Percent Owner, Officer: Vp-Manufacturing, Secy

862.5K sharesโ€ข2 transactions

$23.29M

2
YA

Yu Alan

Director, 10 Percent Owner, Officer: Chief Executive Officer

862.5K sharesโ€ข2 transactions

$23.29M

3
GJ

Guo Jian

Director, Officer: Chief Financial Officer

2.5K sharesโ€ข1 transactions

$40K

Insider Activity Analysis

Net Insider Sentiment

Bearish

Strong bearish signal with $46.59M net selling. Heavy insider selling may indicate concerns about valuation or near-term prospects.

Buy/Sell Ratio

0.00:1

Very poor ratio. Heavy selling with minimal buying suggests insiders may be concerned about valuation or outlook.

Insider Participation

High Selling

3 insider sellers vs. 1 buyers. Widespread selling across multiple insiders may signal concerns.

1.61%
Dividend Yield
-19%
3Y-
5Y-
10Y+1129.0%
ย 

krt Dividend History

KRT
10Y CAGR +3%
Latest $0.45
Annual $1.8
5 year growth trend
Last Period: +0%