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Karat Packaging Inc (KRT)
NASDAQ:KRT
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Karat Packaging Inc (KRT) AI Stock Analysis

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Karat Packaging Inc

(NASDAQ:KRT)

Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:
$32.00
▲(13.31%Upside)
Karat Packaging Inc's strong financial performance and strategic initiatives, such as supply chain diversification and stable dividend payouts, significantly bolster its overall score. While technical indicators are neutral, the company's valuation and positive earnings call outlook support a favorable long-term investment perspective.
Positive Factors
Earnings
Shares are expected to open higher after a first-quarter beat and second-quarter guide above expectations.
Growth Opportunities
Karat's strong cash flow and proactive expansion of distribution capabilities are allowing it to capitalize on growth opportunities despite broader macro uncertainty.
Supply Chain
The company’s ability to flexibly source products from various countries makes the company resilient to potential tariff uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.
Negative Factors
Costs
Fourth-quarter EPS missed expectations despite sales and gross margin that were in line, due to higher SG&A.
Margins
The risk is that the price increases will not be enough to maintain margins and volumes could take a dive.
Tariffs
Tariffs loom as a big second-half risk, encouraging investors to proceed with caution until more tariff clarity comes.

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

Karat Packaging Inc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionKarat 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.
How the Company Makes MoneyKarat Packaging Inc generates revenue through the sale of its disposable foodservice products to a diverse customer base, including restaurants, cafes, catering companies, and food retailers. The company's revenue model is centered around manufacturing and distributing a variety of packaging solutions, with a significant focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly products. Partnerships with distributors and direct sales to end-users form key revenue streams. Additionally, the company's commitment to innovation in sustainable packaging helps to attract environmentally conscious businesses looking to enhance their sustainability practices, contributing to its overall earnings.

Karat Packaging Inc Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 08, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 4.83%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 07, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlights Karat Packaging Inc.'s strong sales growth and strategic supply chain diversification, alongside significant challenges in managing increased operating expenses and maintaining margins. The company's solid cash flow and liquidity are positive, but the decline in adjusted EBITDA and earnings per share indicate some underlying financial pressures.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Sales Growth
Karat Packaging Inc. achieved an 8.4% growth in net sales and a nearly 11% increase in sales volume year over year for the first quarter of 2025.
Diversification of Supply Chain
The company reduced sourcing from China from 20% at the end of 2024 to 15% by March 2025, with plans to further reduce to under 10% by the end of Q2 2025, moving production to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Expansion of Online Business
Online sales experienced a nearly 20% increase during the first quarter, reflecting a strong focus on expanding this high-margin category.
New Distribution Center
The company opened a new 187,000 square feet distribution center near their headquarters in Chino, providing additional capacity to support growth.
Operating Cash Flow and Liquidity
Karat Packaging Inc. generated $7.7 million in operating cash flow and ended the quarter with $111.9 million in working capital and $46.7 million in financial liquidity.
Negative Updates
Increased Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased by 11.6% due to higher shipping and transportation costs, increased rent expense due to the new distribution center, and higher marketing and professional service expenses.
Decline in Retail Channel Sales
Sales to the retail channel decreased by 3.2% compared to the prior year quarter.
Pressure on Gross Margin
Despite an 8.4% increase in gross profit, the gross margin remained consistent at 39.3%, with potential future pressure due to tariffs and higher freight costs.
Adjusted EBITDA and Earnings Decline
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $11.9 million compared to $13.5 million in the prior year quarter, and adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased from 40¢ to 33¢.
Company Guidance
During Karat Packaging Inc.'s 2025 first quarter conference call, the company provided guidance on several key financial metrics. They reported an 8.4% increase in net sales, reaching $103.6 million, with a 10.9% increase in sales volume year over year. The gross margin remained stable at 39.3%, and the company generated an operating cash flow of $7.7 million for the quarter. The adjusted EBITDA was $11.9 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 11.5%. Looking forward, Karat Packaging expects net sales for the second quarter to grow by high single digits to low double digits compared to the previous year, with a gross margin consistent with the first quarter and an adjusted EBITDA margin in the mid-teens. The company is also working to reduce its reliance on Chinese imports, aiming to decrease imports from China to under 10% by the end of the second quarter, while expanding its sourcing from countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Karat Packaging Inc Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Karat Packaging Inc exhibits excellent financial health, characterized by consistent revenue and margin growth, a sound balance sheet, and strong cash flow generation. Despite increased leverage, the company maintains a healthy capital structure and offers attractive returns to shareholders.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Karat Packaging Inc has demonstrated strong revenue growth with Total Revenue rising from $364.24 million in 2021 to $430.64 million in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) 2025, marking consistent growth over years. Gross Profit Margin remains robust at around 38.6% in TTM, supported by effective cost management. The Net Profit Margin has improved to 7% in TTM 2025, indicating a healthy operational efficiency. EBIT and EBITDA margins are stable, reinforcing the company's profitability and operational strength.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The Balance Sheet depicts a stable financial position with Stockholders' Equity rising to $153.31 million in TTM 2025. The Debt-to-Equity Ratio has increased, reflecting higher leverage, but remains manageable. Return on Equity stands at 19.7% in TTM, showcasing strong returns for shareholders. The Equity Ratio is moderate, indicating a balanced capital structure.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
Cash Flow analysis highlights robust Free Cash Flow growth, with a marked increase in Operating Cash Flow to $49.15 million in TTM 2025. The Free Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio is solid, denoting effective cash conversion. The company has maintained strong cash generation, supporting its investment and financing activities.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue422.63M405.65M422.96M364.24M295.52M
Gross Profit164.33M153.04M132.09M107.83M89.13M
EBITDA37.76M60.78M48.76M33.19M36.27M
Net Income29.98M32.47M23.65M20.78M17.52M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets294.52M276.40M252.18M207.60M181.10M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments59.93M49.42M16.04M6.48M448.00K
Total Debt92.87M71.00M58.65M36.52M98.55M
Total Liabilities129.95M113.71M100.24M75.57M141.24M
Stockholders Equity155.57M154.12M141.68M122.90M32.40M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow43.91M44.05M14.73M-3.70M-21.93M
Operating Cash Flow47.98M53.38M29.47M8.68M14.55M
Investing Cash Flow-5.86M-30.17M-17.84M-13.28M-37.35M
Financing Cash Flow-31.29M-16.17M-2.07M10.64M22.45M

Karat Packaging Inc Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price28.24
Price Trends
50DMA
29.16
Negative
100DMA
28.05
Positive
200DMA
28.19
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.02
Negative
RSI
46.18
Neutral
STOCH
24.10
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KRT, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 28.24 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 28.20, below the 50-day MA of 29.16, and above the 200-day MA of 28.19, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.02 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 46.18 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 24.10 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for KRT.

Karat Packaging Inc Risk Analysis

Karat Packaging Inc disclosed 56 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Karat Packaging Inc reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
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 (56)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
KRKRT
73
Outperform
$570.98M18.9619.64%6.33%6.21%1.47%
TRTRS
70
Outperform
$1.19B38.134.64%0.55%3.80%-20.92%
70
Outperform
$2.75B-69.06%8.70%4.42%70.21%
MYMYE
66
Neutral
$550.27M52.593.69%3.67%3.92%-73.64%
OIOI
65
Neutral
$2.23B-13.85%-5.29%18.22%
59
Neutral
$293.13M-3.89%10.11%6.77%
56
Neutral
HK$25.30B3.94-2.03%6.16%-0.31%-67.70%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KRT
Karat Packaging Inc
28.24
0.53
1.91%
MYE
Myers Industries
14.87
0.85
6.06%
OI
O-I Glass
14.44
2.85
24.59%
TRS
Trimas
29.42
2.73
10.23%
PACK
Ranpak Holdings
3.55
-3.63
-50.56%
AMBP
Ardagh Metal Packaging
4.60
1.44
45.57%

Karat Packaging Inc Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Karat Packaging Inc Elects Directors at Annual Meeting
Neutral
Jun 20, 2025

At the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 19, Karat Packaging Inc. elected five directors, including Alan Yu and Jian Guo, to serve until the next annual meeting. Additionally, stockholders ratified PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, and approved the executive compensation plan.

The most recent analyst rating on (KRT) stock is a Buy with a $36.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Karat Packaging Inc stock, see the KRT Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Karat Packaging Inc Announces Secondary Stock Offering
Neutral
Jun 12, 2025

On June 10, 2025, Karat Packaging Inc. announced a secondary offering of 1,500,000 shares of its common stock by certain members of its management team, with BofA Securities and William Blair & Company acting as joint lead book-runners. The company will not offer any shares or receive proceeds from this sale, which is conducted under a shelf registration statement filed with the SEC. The offering includes a 30-day option for underwriters to purchase an additional 225,000 shares. This move is part of the company’s strategic financial operations, potentially impacting its market positioning and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (KRT) stock is a Buy with a $36.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Karat Packaging Inc stock, see the KRT Stock Forecast page.

Dividends
Karat Packaging Declares Quarterly Dividend Announcement
Positive
May 7, 2025

On May 6, 2025, Karat Packaging Inc. announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per share on the company’s common stock. This dividend is scheduled to be paid on or about May 23, 2025, to stockholders of record as of May 16, 2025, reflecting the company’s commitment to providing value to its shareholders.

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: Jul 17, 2025