GEF vs IP vs PKG vs ATR

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). Greif, Inc. (GEF) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E (17. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate International Paper Company (IP) a "Buy" — based on 29 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, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the cheapest at 4. 5x versus Packaging Corporation of America at 26. 0x. On forward P/E, Greif, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Greif, Inc. wins at 0. 38x versus Packaging Corporation of America's 1. 79x — 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 +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), Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus International Paper Company's 1. 20β — meaning IP is approximately 85% more volatile than GEF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Greif, Inc. (GEF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 95% for Packaging Corporation of America — 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 -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Greif, Inc. grew EPS 223. 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.

Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 19. 6% 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, Greif, Inc. (GEF) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 38x versus Packaging Corporation of America's 1. 79x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Greif, Inc. (GEF) trades at 17. 3x forward P/E versus 22. 5x for AptarGroup, Inc. — 5. 1x 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 (GEF (Consumer Cyclical) and IP (Consumer Cyclical) and PKG (Consumer Cyclical) and ATR (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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