Packaging & Containers
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AMCR vs PKG
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Packaging & Containers
AMCR vs PKG — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Packaging & Containers | Packaging & Containers |
| Market Cap | $18.58B | $20.24B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22.19B | $8.99B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $678M | $773M |
| Gross Margin | 18.5% | 21.0% |
| Operating Margin | 6.4% | 13.6% |
| Forward P/E | 10.2x | 22.0x |
| Total Debt | $15.01B | $4.36B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $827M | $529M |
AMCR vs PKG — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amcor plc (AMCR) | 100 | 393.8 | +293.8% |
| Packaging Corporati… (PKG) | 100 | 223.7 | +123.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AMCR vs PKG
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
AMCR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 11 yrs, beta 0.80, yield 6.6%
- Rev growth 10.0%, EPS growth -36.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 1.1%
- 419.6% 10Y total return vs PKG's 307.0%
PKG is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.76, Low D/E 94.9%, current ratio 3.17x
- Beta 0.76, yield 2.2%, current ratio 3.17x
- 8.6% margin vs AMCR's 3.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 10.0% revenue growth vs PKG's 7.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (10.2x vs 22.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.6% margin vs AMCR's 3.1% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.76 vs AMCR's 0.80, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 6.6% yield, 11-year raise streak, vs PKG's 2.2% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +366.1% vs PKG's +28.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.7% ROA vs AMCR's 1.8%, ROIC 12.6% vs 4.1% |
AMCR vs PKG — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
AMCR vs PKG — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PKG leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AMCR is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.2B annually — 2.5x PKG's $9.0B. PKG is the more profitable business, keeping 8.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AMCR's 3.1%. On growth, AMCR holds the edge at +77.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22.2B | $9.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.6B | $1.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $678M | $773M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.4B | $729M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.5% | +21.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.4% | +13.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.1% | +8.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.5% | +8.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +77.4% | +10.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.8% | -53.9% |
Valuation Metrics
AMCR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 25.1x trailing earnings, AMCR trades at a 5% valuation discount to PKG's 26.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PKG's 12.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AMCR's 18.9x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $18.6B | $20.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $32.8B | $24.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 25.13x | 26.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.20x | 22.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.19x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.93x | 12.61x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.24x | 2.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.09x | 4.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.94x | 27.77x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PKG leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PKG delivers a 16.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $17 in annual profit, vs $4 for AMCR. PKG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.95x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AMCR's 1.28x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AMCR scores 5/9 vs PKG's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.7% | +16.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.8% | +7.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.1% | +12.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.8% | +14.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.28x | 0.95x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $14.2B | $3.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $827M | $529M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $15.0B | $4.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.85x | 13.99x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AMCR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AMCR five years ago would be worth $42,102 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,368 for PKG. Over the past 12 months, AMCR leads with a +366.1% total return vs PKG's +28.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AMCR at 65.9% vs PKG's 21.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +385.9% | +8.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +366.1% | +28.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +356.8% | +77.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +321.0% | +63.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +419.6% | +307.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +65.9% | +21.1% |
Risk & Volatility
PKG leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PKG is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AMCR's 0.80 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PKG currently trades 90.9% from its 52-week high vs AMCR's 78.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.80x | 0.76x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.94 | $249.51 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.67 | $178.30 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.9% | +90.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.0 | 59.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.5M | 928K |
Analyst Outlook
AMCR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AMCR as "Buy" and PKG as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 24.3% upside for AMCR (target: $50) vs 8.0% for PKG (target: $245). For income investors, AMCR offers the higher dividend yield at 6.60% vs PKG's 2.21%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.00 | $245.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.6% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 11 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.65 | $5.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.7% | +0.8% |
PKG leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). AMCR leads in 3 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
AMCR vs PKG: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AMCR or PKG a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Amcor plc (AMCR) is the stronger pick with 10.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). Amcor plc (AMCR) offers the better valuation at 25. 1x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Amcor plc (AMCR) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — AMCR or PKG?
On trailing P/E, Amcor plc (AMCR) is the cheapest at 25.
1x versus Packaging Corporation of America at 26. 4x. On forward P/E, Amcor plc is actually cheaper at 10. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AMCR or PKG?
Over the past 5 years, Amcor plc (AMCR) delivered a total return of +321.
0%, compared to +63. 7% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMCR returned +419. 6% versus PKG's +307. 0%. 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 — AMCR or PKG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
76β versus Amcor plc's 0. 80β — meaning AMCR is approximately 6% more volatile than PKG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 95% versus 128% for Amcor plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — AMCR or PKG?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amcor plc (AMCR) is pulling ahead at 10.
0% versus 7. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Packaging Corporation of America grew EPS -3. 9% year-over-year, compared to -36. 8% for Amcor plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, PKG leads at 2. 0% 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 — AMCR or PKG?
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
6% net margin versus 3. 4% for Amcor plc — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PKG leads at 14. 0% versus 6. 7% for AMCR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PKG leads at 21. 0%, 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 AMCR or PKG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Amcor plc (AMCR) trades at 10.
2x forward P/E versus 22. 0x for Packaging Corporation of America — 11. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMCR: 24. 3% to $50. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — AMCR or PKG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Amcor plc (AMCR) offers the highest yield at 6. 6%, versus 2. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG).
09Is AMCR or PKG better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Amcor plc (AMCR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
80), 6. 6% yield, +419. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMCR: +419. 6%, PKG: +307. 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 AMCR and PKG?
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: AMCR is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; PKG is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.
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