ALB vs. PKG: Albemarle vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) both fall under the Materials industry group, but ALB is classified in Chemicals while PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Profile Item	ALB	PKG
Name	Albemarle Corporation	Packaging Corporation of America
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Chemicals	Containers & Packaging
GICS Sub-Industry	Specialty Chemicals	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	11.71 billion USD	22.25 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 22, 1994	January 28, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ALB

PKG

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
Total Return (1Y)	1.28%	31.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-3.80%	21.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-17.74%	17.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ALB

PKG

GSPC

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.59%	28.35%
Beta (5Y)	1.32	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-83.90%	-31.78%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.40M	624.28K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ALB and PKG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.06	0.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.08	1.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Albemarle (ALB) earns 7.05% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE this period.

ALB

Materials industry group

7.05%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
ALB: 7.05%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

PKG

Materials industry group

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%
PKG: --

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ALB is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.08% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.40% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.08%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
ALB: 11.08%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

PKG

Materials industry group

7.40%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
PKG: 7.40%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 11.74% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 14.97% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

ALB

Materials industry group

11.74%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
ALB: 11.74%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

PKG

Materials industry group

14.97%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
PKG: 14.97%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
ROE (TTM)	7.05%	--
ROA (TTM)	3.95%	--
Net Margin (TTM)	11.08%	7.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)	11.74%	14.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	26.17%	21.24%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Albemarle (ALB) at -4.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Packaging Corp of America (PKG) reports EPS growth of -3.92%, ranked against its industry; Albemarle (ALB) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-4.37%	7.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-11.10%	1.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-3.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-8.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Albemarle (ALB) shows current ratio of 2.34 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.

ALB

Materials industry group

2.34

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
ALB: 2.34
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

PKG

Materials industry group

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16
PKG: --

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ALB is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 0.18 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 uses more debt funding than most peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

0.18

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
ALB: 0.18
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

PKG

Materials industry group

0.94

Max: 1.98
PKG: 0.94
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.34	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.18	0.94
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.09	1.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Albemarle (ALB) at 1.65% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PKG the richer one.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.65%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
ALB: 1.65%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PKG

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max: 4.52%
PKG: 2.21%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Albemarle (ALB) at 39.16% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 67.82% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ALB

Materials industry group

39.16%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
ALB: 39.16%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PKG

Materials industry group

67.82%

Max: 83.62%
PKG: 67.82%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.65%	2.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	39.16%	67.82%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Albemarle (ALB) at 23.92 and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ALB

Materials industry group

23.92

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
ALB: 23.92
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

PKG

Materials industry group

30.79

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
PKG: 30.79
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Albemarle (ALB) at 1.90 and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.26 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.90

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
ALB: 1.90
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

PKG

Materials industry group

2.26

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
PKG: 2.26
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Albemarle (ALB) at 1.41 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 4.74 carries an above-peer premium to book — PKG is pricier on assets.

ALB

Materials industry group

1.41

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
ALB: 1.41
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

PKG

Materials industry group

4.74

Max: 6.59
PKG: 4.74
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Albemarle (ALB) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Albemarle (ALB) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	ALB	PKG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.92	30.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.90	2.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	4.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	10.67%	--