EBF vs PKG vs IP vs GPK

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 1% for Ennis, Inc. (EBF). Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) offers the better valuation at 7. 2x trailing P/E (12. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ennis, Inc. (EBF) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) is the cheapest at 7.

2x versus Packaging Corporation of America at 26. 2x. On forward P/E, Graphic Packaging Holding Company is actually cheaper at 12. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Graphic Packaging Holding Company wins at 0. 63x versus Ennis, Inc. 's 14. 36x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) delivered a total return of +60.

8%, compared to -35. 4% for Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PKG returned +301. 6% versus GPK's +9. 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), Ennis, Inc.

(EBF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 52β versus International Paper Company's 1. 21β — meaning IP is approximately 135% more volatile than EBF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ennis, Inc. (EBF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 167% for Graphic Packaging Holding Company — 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 -6. 1% for Ennis, Inc. (EBF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Packaging Corporation of America grew EPS -3. 9% 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.

Ennis, Inc.

(EBF) is the more profitable company, earning 10. 2% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 10. 2% 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 — EBF leads at 29. 7%, 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, Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 63x versus Ennis, Inc. 's 14. 36x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) trades at 12. 5x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for International Paper Company — 11. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IP: 39. 9% to $46. 20.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Ennis, Inc. (EBF) offers the highest yield at 17. 0%, versus 2. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ennis, Inc.

(EBF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 52), 17. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EBF: +78. 8%, IP: +29. 1%), 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 (EBF (Industrials) and PKG (Consumer Cyclical) and IP (Consumer Cyclical) and GPK (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: EBF is a small-cap deep-value stock; PKG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; IP is a mid-cap high-growth stock; GPK 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.