EBF vs QUAD vs ACCO vs IP vs PKG

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (4. 8x 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, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is the cheapest at 9.

2x versus Packaging Corporation of America at 26. 0x. On forward P/E, ACCO Brands Corporation is actually cheaper at 4. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Packaging Corporation of America wins at 1. 79x versus Ennis, Inc. 's 14. 44x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Quad/Graphics, Inc.

(QUAD) delivered a total return of +158. 1%, compared to -39. 3% for ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PKG returned +299. 8% versus ACCO's -35. 1%. 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. 53β versus ACCO Brands Corporation's 1. 33β — meaning ACCO is approximately 151% 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 3% for Quad/Graphics, 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 -9. 4% for Quad/Graphics, Inc. (QUAD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Quad/Graphics, Inc. grew EPS 150. 5% 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 — ACCO leads at 29. 8%, 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, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 79x versus Ennis, Inc. 's 14. 44x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) trades at 4. 8x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for International Paper Company — 17. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACCO: 97. 0% to $8. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Ennis, Inc. (EBF) offers the highest yield at 16. 9%, 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. 53), 16. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EBF: +79. 4%, ACCO: -35. 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 QUAD (Industrials) and ACCO (Industrials) and IP (Consumer Cyclical) and PKG (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; QUAD is a small-cap deep-value stock; ACCO is a small-cap deep-value stock; IP is a mid-cap high-growth 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.