ATR vs PKG vs IP vs SLGN

For growth investors, International Paper Company (IP) is the stronger pick with 33.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) offers the better valuation at 14. 9x trailing P/E (10. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) a "Buy" — based on 18 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.

On trailing P/E, Silgan Holdings Inc.

(SLGN) is the cheapest at 14. 9x versus Packaging Corporation of America at 26. 0x. On forward P/E, Silgan Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: AptarGroup, Inc. wins at 1. 75x versus Packaging Corporation of America's 1. 79x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) delivered a total return of +61.

6%, compared to -26. 6% for International Paper Company (IP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PKG returned +299. 8% versus IP's +29. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 66β versus International Paper Company's 1. 20β — meaning IP is approximately 81% more volatile than ATR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 2% for Silgan Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), International Paper Company (IP) is pulling ahead at 33.

7% versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AptarGroup, Inc. grew EPS 6. 3% year-over-year, compared to -527. 4% for International Paper Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, IP leads at 5. 6% 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.

AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 4% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 10. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PKG leads at 14. 0% versus -11. 3% for IP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATR leads at 29. 6%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 75x versus Packaging Corporation of America's 1. 79x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for AptarGroup, Inc. — 11. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IP: 40. 3% to $46. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

International Paper Company (IP) offers the highest yield at 5. 6%, versus 1. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

76), 2. 2% yield, +299. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PKG: +299. 8%, IP: +29. 2%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ATR (Healthcare) and PKG (Consumer Cyclical) and IP (Consumer Cyclical) and SLGN (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ATR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PKG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IP is a mid-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.