IP vs RKT vs PKG vs UWMC

For growth investors, UWM Holdings Corporation (UWMC) is the stronger pick with 65.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) offers the better valuation at 26. 2x trailing P/E (21. 8x 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, Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the cheapest at 26.

2x versus UWM Holdings Corporation at 28. 2x. On forward P/E, UWM Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

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

8%, compared to -27. 2% for International Paper Company (IP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PKG returned +301. 6% versus UWMC's -41. 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), Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

74β versus Rocket Companies, Inc. 's 1. 85β — meaning RKT is approximately 149% more volatile than PKG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Paper Company (IP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 73% versus 9% for UWM Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), UWM Holdings Corporation (UWMC) is pulling ahead at 65.

8% versus 7. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). 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.

Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

6% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UWMC leads at 58. 0% versus -11. 3% for IP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RKT leads at 91. 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.

On forward earnings alone, UWM Holdings Corporation (UWMC) trades at 8.

4x forward P/E versus 23. 4x for International Paper Company — 15. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UWMC: 68. 0% to $5. 68.

In this comparison, UWMC (100.

0% yield), IP (5. 6% yield), PKG (2. 2% yield) pay a dividend. RKT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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.

74), 2. 2% yield, +301. 6% 10Y return). Rocket Companies, Inc. (RKT) carries a higher beta of 1. 85 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PKG: +301. 6%, RKT: -13. 5%), 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 (IP (Consumer Cyclical) and RKT (Financial Services) and PKG (Consumer Cyclical) and UWMC (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: IP is a mid-cap high-growth stock; RKT is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PKG is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; UWMC is a small-cap high-growth stock. IP, PKG, UWMC pay a dividend while RKT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.