Sealed Air Stock (SEE) Gains Upside Catalyst Watch at Citi

Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE) is experiencing renewed market optimism, highlighted by Citi initiating an “upside 90-day catalyst watch” ahead of the company's Q3 report in November. The catalyst watch, combined with a raised price target, has drawn attention to the packaging solutions provider's potential for near-term gains.

The stock closed at $34.42, a 3.42% increase from the previous close. This movement reflects investor confidence spurred by analyst upgrades and positive expectations for the company's Protective segment. The stock's 52-week range is between $22.78 and $38.85, suggesting considerable volatility over the past year, but also hinting at potential upside.

Citi analyst Anthony Pettinari increased the firm's price target on Sealed Air to $39 from $38, while maintaining a “Buy” rating. This revision is predicated on the belief that Sealed Air's Protective unit could see a volume inflection in Q4. The analyst's confidence in the Protective unit stems from potential growth in the industrial portfolio.

Beyond Citi's update, several other firms have weighed in on Sealed Air's prospects. Mizuho increased its target price from $34.00 to $37.00, assigning an “Outperformer” rating. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Sealed Air from “Neutral” to “Overweight,” raising the target price from $33.00 to $36.00. These upgrades suggest a broader consensus that Sealed Air is strategically positioned for growth.

Sealed Air's recent financial performance provides context for these optimistic projections. In Q2 2025, the company reported net sales of $1.34 billion, a slight decrease of 0.8% year-over-year. However, adjusted EBITDA was up 2.5% to $293 million, and adjusted EPS increased by 7.2% to $0.89. Q1 2025 saw net sales of $1.27 billion, down 4.3% from Q1 2024. Net earnings rose by 40.2% to $117 million, with diluted EPS increasing to $0.79 from $0.57. Despite varied performance across segments, the company maintained its full-year 2025 guidance, projecting net sales between $5.1 billion and $5.5 billion and Adjusted EBITDA between $1.075 billion and $1.175 billion.

Leadership and Shareholder Returns

Leadership changes at Sealed Air also reflect a forward-looking approach. The appointment of Kristen Actis-Grande as Chief Financial Officer in August 2025 is expected to bolster the company's financial strategy. Actis-Grande's experience from MSC Industrial Supply Co. and Ingersoll Rand is anticipated to bring valuable insights.

Sealed Air's commitment to shareholder returns is evident in its recent dividend declaration. The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share, payable on September 26, 2025, to stockholders of record as of September 12, 2025.

Analyst Summary: Bull and Bear Cases

Analysts currently assign a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” to Sealed Air, with an average 12-month price target of $38.55, indicating potential upside from the current price. The upcoming Q3 report in November is anticipated to provide further insight into the company's growth trajectory and operational improvements, as the recent price action appears to be correlated with the positive analyst sentiment and anticipation of improved performance in the Protective segment.