ATR vs SON

For growth investors, Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the stronger pick with 41.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). Sonoco Products Company (SON) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E (8. 8x 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, Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the cheapest at 13.

0x versus AptarGroup, Inc. at 21. 3x. On forward P/E, Sonoco Products Company is actually cheaper at 8. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Sonoco Products Company wins at 0. 62x versus AptarGroup, Inc. 's 1. 75x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Sonoco Products Company (SON) delivered a total return of -9.

7%, compared to -15. 3% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATR returned +83. 3% versus SON's +48. 6%. 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), Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

53β versus AptarGroup, Inc. 's 0. 66β — meaning ATR is approximately 25% more volatile than SON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 134% for Sonoco Products Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Sonoco Products Company (SON) is pulling ahead at 41.

7% versus 5. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sonoco Products Company grew EPS 141. 2% year-over-year, compared to 6. 3% for AptarGroup, 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.

AptarGroup, Inc.

(ATR) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 4% net margin versus 5. 3% for Sonoco Products Company — meaning it keeps 10. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATR leads at 13. 6% versus 9. 5% for SON. 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, Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 62x versus AptarGroup, Inc. 's 1. 75x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Sonoco Products Company (SON) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for AptarGroup, Inc. — 13. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATR: 35. 6% to $169. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Sonoco Products Company (SON) offers the highest yield at 4. 0%, versus 1. 4% for AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR).

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: +48. 6%, ATR: +83. 3%), 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 SON (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; SON is a small-cap high-growth 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.