BABA vs. PKG: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on October 6, 2025

Here’s a clear look at BABA and PKG, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

BABA trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, PKG is a standard domestic listing.

Symbol	BABA	PKG
Company Name	Alibaba Group Holding Limited	Packaging Corporation of America
Country	Hong Kong	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Materials
GICS Industry	Broadline Retail	Containers & Packaging
Market Capitalization	436.04 billion USD	19.30 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	January 28, 2000
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of BABA and PKG by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

BABA vs. PKG: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	PKG
5-Day Price Return	4.52%	-0.80%
13-Week Price Return	72.98%	6.06%
26-Week Price Return	42.20%	8.34%
52-Week Price Return	63.15%	0.81%
Month-to-Date Return	5.20%	-1.56%
Year-to-Date Return	121.76%	-4.70%
10-Day Avg. Volume	21.92M	0.52M
3-Month Avg. Volume	16.69M	0.73M
3-Month Volatility	49.21%	22.28%
Beta	0.31	0.94

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

BABA

14.91%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 47.53%
Q3: 31.20%
Median: 16.63%
Q1: 10.81%
Min: -7.57%

BABA’s Return on Equity of 14.91% is on par with the norm for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

PKG

20.33%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 36.99%
Q3: 19.86%
Median: 10.47%
Q1: 6.76%
Min: -0.20%

In the upper quartile for the Containers & Packaging industry, PKG’s Return on Equity of 20.33% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

BABA

14.82%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 24.63%
Q3: 12.77%
Median: 8.63%
Q1: 4.50%
Min: -1.62%

A Net Profit Margin of 14.82% places BABA in the upper quartile for the Broadline Retail industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

PKG

10.47%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 10.84%
Q3: 8.25%
Median: 4.91%
Q1: 3.65%
Min: -0.12%

A Net Profit Margin of 10.47% places PKG in the upper quartile for the Containers & Packaging industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

BABA

13.98%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 27.48%
Q3: 17.60%
Median: 10.82%
Q1: 7.76%
Min: -6.73%

BABA’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.98% is around the midpoint for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

PKG

14.39%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 22.03%
Q3: 13.09%
Median: 8.06%
Q1: 6.46%
Min: -0.07%

An Operating Profit Margin of 14.39% places PKG in the upper quartile for the Containers & Packaging industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	PKG
Return on Equity (TTM)	14.91%	20.33%
Return on Assets (TTM)	8.16%	10.16%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	14.82%	10.47%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	13.98%	14.39%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	41.18%	22.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

BABA

1.45

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 3.54
Q3: 2.42
Median: 1.38
Q1: 1.20
Min: 0.69

BABA’s Current Ratio of 1.45 aligns with the median group of the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

PKG

3.54

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 1.96
Q3: 1.45
Median: 1.33
Q1: 1.09
Min: 0.87

PKG’s Current Ratio of 3.54 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Containers & Packaging industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

BABA

0.23

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 2.01
Q3: 1.31
Median: 0.72
Q1: 0.32
Min: 0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Broadline Retail industry, BABA’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.23 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

PKG

0.54

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 4.15
Q3: 2.03
Median: 1.20
Q1: 0.53
Min: 0.23

PKG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.54 is typical for the Containers & Packaging industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

BABA

9.56

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 37.34
Q3: 21.16
Median: 8.60
Q1: 3.22
Min: -19.29

BABA’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.56 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

PKG

26.71

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 13.16
Q3: 8.10
Median: 3.38
Q1: 2.83
Min: 1.06

With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 26.71, PKG demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Containers & Packaging industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	PKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.45	3.54
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.97	2.21
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.23	0.54
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	9.56	26.71

Growth

Revenue Growth

BABA vs. PKG: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

BABA vs. PKG: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BABA

1.81%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 4.06%
Q3: 2.07%
Median: 0.37%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BABA’s Dividend Yield of 1.81% is consistent with its peers in the Broadline Retail industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

PKG

2.31%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 7.14%
Q3: 4.65%
Median: 3.69%
Q1: 2.00%
Min: 0.00%

PKG’s Dividend Yield of 2.31% is consistent with its peers in the Containers & Packaging industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

BABA

103.01%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 114.82%
Q3: 62.39%
Median: 28.55%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BABA’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 103.01% is in the upper quartile for the Broadline Retail industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

PKG

49.67%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 222.75%
Q3: 132.16%
Median: 65.79%
Q1: 28.53%
Min: 0.00%

PKG’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 49.67% is within the typical range for the Containers & Packaging industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	PKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.81%	2.31%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	103.01%	49.67%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

BABA

21.53

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 62.76
Q3: 32.50
Median: 17.65
Q1: 12.08
Min: 6.87

BABA’s P/E Ratio of 21.53 is within the middle range for the Broadline Retail industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

PKG

21.50

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 24.22
Q3: 20.28
Median: 17.07
Q1: 15.06
Min: 7.79

A P/E Ratio of 21.50 places PKG in the upper quartile for the Containers & Packaging industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

BABA

3.19

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 5.19
Q3: 3.25
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.21

BABA’s P/S Ratio of 3.19 aligns with the market consensus for the Broadline Retail industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

PKG

2.25

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 1.99
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.94
Q1: 0.55
Min: 0.31

With a P/S Ratio of 2.25, PKG trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Containers & Packaging industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

BABA

1.90

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 8.81
Q3: 5.19
Median: 3.42
Q1: 1.75
Min: 0.73

BABA’s P/B Ratio of 1.90 is within the conventional range for the Broadline Retail industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

PKG

3.66

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max: 4.79
Q3: 3.32
Median: 2.14
Q1: 1.60
Min: 0.89

PKG’s P/B Ratio of 3.66 is in the upper tier for the Containers & Packaging industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

BABA vs. PKG: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Broadline Retail and Containers & Packaging industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	PKG
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.53	21.50
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	3.19	2.25
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	1.90	3.66
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	41.19	31.20