SW vs PKG

For growth investors, Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) is the stronger pick with 53.

0% 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. 0x trailing P/E (21. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) a "Buy" — based on 11 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.

0x versus Smurfit Westrock Plc at 31. 3x. On forward P/E, Smurfit Westrock Plc is actually cheaper at 17. 2x — 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 +61.

6%, compared to -18. 1% for Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PKG returned +299. 8% versus SW's +64. 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.

76β versus Smurfit Westrock Plc's 1. 35β — meaning SW is approximately 79% more volatile than PKG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 75% versus 95% for Packaging Corporation of America — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) is pulling ahead at 53.

0% versus 7. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Smurfit Westrock Plc grew EPS 68. 4% year-over-year, compared to -3. 9% for Packaging Corporation of America. Over a 3-year CAGR, SW leads at 35. 2% 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 2. 2% for Smurfit Westrock Plc — meaning it keeps 8. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PKG leads at 14. 0% versus 7. 1% for SW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PKG leads at 21. 0%, 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, Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) trades at 17.

2x forward P/E versus 21. 7x for Packaging Corporation of America — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SW: 30. 1% to $54. 14.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) offers the highest yield at 3. 5%, versus 2. 2% for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG).

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%, SW: +64. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: SW 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.