SON
Sonoco Products Company
Packaging & Containers
Market Cap$5.16B
5Y Perf.+0.9%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
SON vs SLGN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SLGN
Silgan Holdings Inc.
Packaging & Containers
Market Cap$4.28B
5Y Perf.+21.1%
SON vs SLGN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SON | SLGN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Packaging & Containers | Packaging & Containers |
| Market Cap | $5.16B | $4.28B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $7.49B | $6.58B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.04B | $283M |
| Gross Margin | 20.9% | 17.4% |
| Operating Margin | 8.7% | 9.8% |
| Forward P/E | 8.9x | 10.7x |
| Total Debt | $4.85B | $4.62B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $378M | $1.08B |
SON vs SLGN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SON
SLGN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoco Products Com… (SON) | 100 | 100.9 | +0.9% |
| Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) | 100 | 121.1 | +21.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SON vs SLGN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SON leads in 7 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SON
Sonoco Products Company
The Income Pick
SON carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 30 yrs, beta 0.53, yield 4.0%
- Rev growth 41.7%, EPS growth 141.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.53, current ratio 1.05x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
SLGN
Silgan Holdings Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
SLGN is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 82.0% 10Y total return vs SON's 50.2%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SON | 41.7% revenue growth vs SLGN's 10.7% |
| Value | SON | Lower P/E (8.9x vs 10.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | SON | 13.8% margin vs SLGN's 4.3% |
| Stability / Safety | SON | Beta 0.53 vs SLGN's 0.66, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SON | 4.0% yield, 30-year raise streak, vs SLGN's 2.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SON | +22.7% vs SLGN's -23.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SON | 9.0% ROA vs SLGN's 3.0%, ROIC 6.2% vs 8.7% |
SON vs SLGN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SON vs SLGN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSONLAGGINGSLGN
SLGNSilgan Holdings Inc.
1leads
SONSonoco Products Compa…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SLGNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SON4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SLGN5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SON4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SON2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SON2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — SON and SLGN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SON and SLGN operate at a comparable scale, with $7.5B and $6.6B in trailing revenue. SON is the more profitable business, keeping 13.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SLGN's 4.3%. On growth, SLGN holds the edge at +6.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SONSonoco Products C… | SLGNSilgan Holdings I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $7.5B | $6.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $966M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.0B | $283M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $266M | $307M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +20.9% | +17.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +9.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +4.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +4.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.9% | +6.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.6% | -6.3% |
Evenly matched — SON and SLGN each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SON leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.1x trailing earnings, SON trades at a 12% valuation discount to SLGN's 15.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SON's 7.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SLGN's 8.0x.
| Metric | SONSonoco Products C… | SLGNSilgan Holdings I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.2B | $4.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $9.6B | $7.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.14x | 15.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.94x | 10.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.93x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.82x | 8.00x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.69x | 0.66x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.43x | 1.90x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.14x | 10.13x |
SON leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SLGN leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SON delivers a 30.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $30 in annual profit, vs $12 for SLGN. SON carries lower financial leverage with a 1.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SLGN's 2.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SLGN scores 8/9 vs SON's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SONSonoco Products C… | SLGNSilgan Holdings I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +30.0% | +12.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.0% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +8.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.3% | +9.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.34x | 2.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.5B | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $378M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.9B | $4.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.60x | 3.36x |
SLGN leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SON leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SLGN five years ago would be worth $10,218 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,993 for SON. Over the past 12 months, SON leads with a +22.7% total return vs SLGN's -23.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SON at -0.7% vs SLGN's -3.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SONSonoco Products C… | SLGNSilgan Holdings I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.1% | -1.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.7% | -23.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.2% | -10.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -10.1% | +2.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.2% | +82.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.7% | -3.7% |
SON leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SON leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SON is the less volatile stock with a 0.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SLGN's 0.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SON currently trades 89.5% from its 52-week high vs SLGN's 71.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SONSonoco Products C… | SLGNSilgan Holdings I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.53x | 0.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $58.43 | $57.04 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $38.65 | $36.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.5% | +71.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.0 | 44.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 767K |
SON leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SON leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SON as "Buy" and SLGN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 24.7% upside for SLGN (target: $51) vs 12.8% for SON (target: $59). For income investors, SON offers the higher dividend yield at 4.00% vs SLGN's 1.98%.
| Metric | SONSonoco Products C… | SLGNSilgan Holdings I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $59.00 | $50.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 21 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.0% | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 30 | 21 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.09 | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +1.6% |
SON leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SON leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). SLGN leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallSonoco Products Company (SON)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
SON vs SLGN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SON or SLGN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the stronger pick with 41.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 7% for Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN). Sonoco Products Company (SON) offers the better valuation at 13. 1x trailing P/E (8. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sonoco Products Company (SON) a "Buy" — based on 21 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — SON or SLGN?
On trailing P/E, Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the cheapest at 13.
1x versus Silgan Holdings Inc. at 15. 0x. On forward P/E, Sonoco Products Company is actually cheaper at 8. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SON or SLGN?
Over the past 5 years, Silgan Holdings Inc.
(SLGN) delivered a total return of +2. 2%, compared to -10. 1% for Sonoco Products Company (SON). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLGN returned +82. 0% versus SON's +50. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — SON or SLGN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
53β versus Silgan Holdings Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning SLGN is approximately 25% more volatile than SON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Sonoco Products Company (SON) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 134% versus 2% for Silgan Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SON or SLGN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sonoco Products Company (SON) is pulling ahead at 41.
7% versus 10. 7% for Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sonoco Products Company grew EPS 141. 2% year-over-year, compared to 4. 7% for Silgan Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SON leads at 8. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — SON or SLGN?
Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the more profitable company, earning 5.
3% net margin versus 4. 4% for Silgan Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLGN leads at 10. 2% versus 9. 5% for SON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SON leads at 20. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is SON or SLGN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Sonoco Products Company (SON) trades at 8.
9x forward P/E versus 10. 7x for Silgan Holdings Inc. — 1. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLGN: 24. 7% to $50. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — SON or SLGN?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Sonoco Products Company (SON) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 2. 0% for Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN).
09Is SON or SLGN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
53), 4. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SON: +50. 2%, SLGN: +82. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between SON and SLGN?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: SON is a small-cap high-growth stock; SLGN is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
Revenue Growth>
%
(SON: -1.9% · SLGN: 6.5%)Net Margin>
%
(SON: 13.8% · SLGN: 4.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
(SON: 13.1x · SLGN: 15.0x)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.