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BALL vs. PKG: Ball vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison

How do Ball (BALL) 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

Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) both belong to the Containers & Packaging industry, though BALL is classified under Metal, Glass & Plastic Containers while PKG falls under Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials.

Company profile comparison for Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Profile ItemBALLPKG
NameBall CorporationPackaging Corporation of America
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingContainers & Packaging
GICS Sub-IndustryMetal, Glass & Plastic ContainersPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization17.16 billion USD22.25 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973January 28, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BALL
PKG
GSPC
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Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
Total Return (1Y)38.59%31.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)12.78%21.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.75%17.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BALL
PKG
GSPC
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Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.54%28.35%
Beta (5Y)0.940.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)-54.87%-31.78%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.12M624.28K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BALL 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 Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.250.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.021.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Ball (BALL) earns 9.49% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE this period.

BALL

Materials industry group

9.49%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
BALL
9.49%
Median
8.76%
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
--
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; BALL is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 3.52% 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

3.52%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
BALL
3.52%
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%
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Ball (BALL) at 9.67% 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

9.67%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
BALL
9.67%
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%
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
ROE (TTM)9.49%--
ROA (TTM)4.65%--
Net Margin (TTM)3.52%7.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.67%14.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)17.84%21.24%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Ball (BALL) at 11.58% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ball (BALL) at -74.62% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
Revenue Growth (YoY)11.58%7.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.53%1.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)-74.62%-3.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)13.62%-8.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Ball (BALL) shows current ratio of 1.04 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.04

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
BALL
1.04
Min
0.16

PKG

Materials industry group

--

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
PKG
--
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; BALL is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Ball (BALL) at 1.33 and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.33

Max
1.98
BALL
1.33
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
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
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Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.04--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.330.94
Net Debt / EBITDA3.451.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ball (BALL) at 1.20% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PKG the richer one.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
BALL
1.20%
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%
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ball (BALL) at 40.20% 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

40.20%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
BALL
40.20%
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%
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.20%2.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)40.20%67.82%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Ball (BALL) at 33.13 sits in the richer quartile — BALL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BALL

Materials industry group

33.13

Max
59.00
BALL
33.13
Q3
32.93
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
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Ball (BALL) 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 Ball (BALL) at 1.13 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

1.13

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
BALL
1.13
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
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Ball (BALL) at 3.02 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.

BALL

Materials industry group

3.02

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
BALL
3.02
Median
2.08
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
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Ball (BALL) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Ball (BALL) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
MetricBALLPKG
P/E Ratio (TTM)33.1330.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.132.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.024.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.54%--