GPK vs NEM vs AEM vs IP vs PKG

For growth investors, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the stronger pick with 43.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 2% for Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK). 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 Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK) a "Buy" — based on 27 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, Newmont Corporation is actually cheaper at 11. 2x — 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: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited wins at 0. 42x versus Packaging Corporation of America's 1. 80x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) delivered a total return of +194.

1%, compared to -35. 4% for Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AEM returned +363. 7% 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), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

66β versus International Paper Company's 1. 21β — meaning IP is approximately 84% more volatile than AEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 167% for Graphic Packaging Holding Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is pulling ahead at 43.

7% versus -2. 2% for Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Agnico Eagle Mines Limited grew EPS 134. 4% year-over-year, compared to -527. 4% for International Paper Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, AEM leads at 29. 3% 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.

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more profitable company, earning 37.

5% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 37. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AEM leads at 53. 1% versus -11. 3% for IP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AEM leads at 58. 1%, 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, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus Packaging Corporation of America's 1. 80x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Newmont Corporation (NEM) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for International Paper Company — 12. 3x 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.

International Paper Company (IP) offers the highest yield at 5. 6%, versus 0. 7% for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

66), 0. 7% yield, +363. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AEM: +363. 7%, 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 (GPK (Consumer Cyclical) and NEM (Basic Materials) and AEM (Basic Materials) 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: GPK is a small-cap deep-value stock; NEM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; AEM is a mid-cap high-growth 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.