GEF vs SLGN vs ATR vs SON vs IP

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

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 Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) a "Buy" — based on 21 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 AptarGroup, Inc. at 21. 3x. On forward P/E, Sonoco Products Company is actually cheaper at 8. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 AptarGroup, Inc. 's 1. 75x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) delivered a total return of +19. 6%, compared to -26. 6% for International Paper Company (IP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GEF returned +153. 7% 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), Sonoco Products Company (SON) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

53β versus International Paper Company's 1. 20β — meaning IP is approximately 127% more volatile than SON relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Greif, Inc. (GEF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 2% for Silgan Holdings Inc. — 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 -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, 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.

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: ATR leads at 13. 6% 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 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 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, 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%, 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 SLGN (Consumer Cyclical) and ATR (Healthcare) and SON (Consumer Cyclical) and IP (Consumer Cyclical)), 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; SLGN is a small-cap deep-value stock; ATR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SON is a small-cap high-growth stock; IP is a mid-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.