DOW vs. PKG: Dow vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison
How do Dow (DOW) 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
Dow (DOW) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) both fall under the Materials industry group, but DOW is classified in Chemicals while PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging.
| Profile Item | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Dow Inc. | 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 | Commodity Chemicals | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 22.73 billion USD | 22.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 20, 2019 | January 28, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 46.93% | 31.07% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -8.46% | 21.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -6.94% | 17.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 41.81% | 28.35% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.44 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -64.37% | -31.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.52M | 624.28K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.02 | 0.95 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.62 | 1.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE value reported for this period; Dow (DOW) reports a negative figure of -3.24%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.
DOW
Materials industry group
-3.24%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- DOW
- -3.24%
- 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
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Dow (DOW) reports a negative net margin of -2.11%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Packaging Corp of America (PKG) reports 7.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DOW
Materials industry group
-2.11%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- DOW
- -2.11%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Dow (DOW) at 6.78% 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.
DOW
Materials industry group
6.78%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- DOW
- 6.78%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -3.24% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.87% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -2.11% | 7.40% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 6.78% | 14.97% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 11.01% | 21.24% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Dow (DOW) at -6.97% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Dow (DOW) at -335.67% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -6.97% | 7.23% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -11.11% | 1.97% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -335.67% | -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: Dow (DOW) shows current ratio of 1.76 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.
DOW
Materials industry group
1.76
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- DOW
- 1.76
- 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
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Dow (DOW) at 1.08 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.
DOW
Materials industry group
1.08
- Max
- 1.98
- DOW
- 1.08
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.76 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.08 | 0.94 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.21 | 1.92 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Dow (DOW) at 4.38% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.
DOW
Materials industry group
4.38%
- Max
- 4.52%
- DOW
- 4.38%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Dow (DOW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 700.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Packaging Corp of America (PKG) reports 67.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.
DOW
Materials industry group
700.00%
- DOW
- 700.00%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.38% | 2.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 700.00% | 67.82% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Packaging Corp of America (PKG) trades at 30.79 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Dow (DOW) has no P/E ratio this period.
DOW
Materials industry group
--
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
- DOW
- --
PKG
Materials industry group
30.79
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- PKG
- 30.79
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Dow (DOW) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.26 prices around its industry’s middle — DOW costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
DOW
Materials industry group
0.53
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- DOW
- 0.53
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Dow (DOW) 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.
DOW
Materials industry group
1.41
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- DOW
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DOW | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 30.79 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.53 | 2.26 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.41 | 4.74 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.95% | -- |