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

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

Company Profile

SymbolGPCPKG
Company NameGenuine Parts CompanyPackaging Corporation of America
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryMaterials
GICS IndustryDistributorsContainers & Packaging
Market Capitalization19.05 billion USD17.83 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980January 28, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of GPC 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.

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolGPCPKG
5-Day Price Return-0.57%0.81%
13-Week Price Return6.12%1.89%
26-Week Price Return9.87%-6.61%
52-Week Price Return-1.22%0.56%
Month-to-Date Return6.29%2.26%
Year-to-Date Return17.33%-12.00%
10-Day Avg. Volume0.91M0.54M
3-Month Avg. Volume1.22M0.74M
3-Month Volatility23.84%22.98%
Beta0.780.94

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

GPC

17.79%

Distributors Industry

Max
18.85%
Q3
17.85%
Median
13.11%
Q1
11.23%
Min
11.19%

GPC’s Return on Equity of 17.79% is on par with the norm for the Distributors industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

PKG

20.33%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
41.66%
Q3
20.76%
Median
14.35%
Q1
6.55%
Min
3.64%

PKG’s Return on Equity of 20.33% is on par with the norm for the Containers & Packaging industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

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

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

GPC

3.40%

Distributors Industry

Max
5.04%
Q3
4.92%
Median
4.56%
Q1
4.55%
Min
4.54%

GPC’s Net Profit Margin of 3.40% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company may be facing challenges with cost control or operating in a highly competitive environment that limits its pricing power.

PKG

10.47%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
11.61%
Q3
8.17%
Median
4.91%
Q1
4.20%
Min
0.08%

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.

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

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

GPC

4.95%

Distributors Industry

Max
11.14%
Q3
7.80%
Median
5.53%
Q1
3.65%
Min
3.17%

GPC’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.95% is around the midpoint for the Distributors 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
13.17%
Median
8.87%
Q1
6.86%
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.

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

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolGPCPKG
Return on Equity (TTM)17.79%20.33%
Return on Assets (TTM)4.06%10.16%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)3.40%10.47%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)4.95%14.39%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)36.88%22.13%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

1.14

Distributors Industry

Max
1.81
Q3
1.72
Median
1.48
Q1
1.24
Min
1.15

GPC’s Current Ratio of 1.14 is notably low, falling beneath the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests a heightened liquidity risk and could indicate potential challenges in meeting its short-term obligations.

PKG

3.54

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
2.13
Q3
1.57
Median
1.27
Q1
1.13
Min
0.58

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.

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

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

1.02

Distributors Industry

Max
1.09
Q3
0.98
Median
0.75
Q1
0.52
Min
0.46

GPC’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Distributors industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.02. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

PKG

0.54

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
4.50
Q3
2.23
Median
1.22
Q1
0.54
Min
0.23

Falling into the lower quartile for the Containers & Packaging industry, PKG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.54 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

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

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

GPC

13.15

Distributors Industry

Max
13.15
Q3
10.84
Median
5.59
Q1
4.01
Min
3.80

GPC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.15 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

PKG

26.71

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
13.16
Q3
8.10
Median
3.61
Q1
2.94
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.

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolGPCPKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.143.54
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.492.21
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.020.54
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)13.1526.71

Growth

Revenue Growth

GPC 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

GPC 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)

GPC

2.93%

Distributors Industry

Max
44.83%
Q3
35.02%
Median
4.81%
Q1
3.26%
Min
1.54%

GPC’s Dividend Yield of 2.93% is in the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

PKG

2.53%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
7.37%
Q3
4.07%
Median
3.33%
Q1
1.72%
Min
0.00%

PKG’s Dividend Yield of 2.53% is consistent with its peers in the Containers & Packaging industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

GPC

69.26%

Distributors Industry

Max
1,122.47%
Q3
858.23%
Median
55.08%
Q1
44.32%
Min
34.92%

GPC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.26% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

PKG

49.67%

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
221.20%
Q3
119.52%
Median
58.05%
Q1
28.91%
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.

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

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolGPCPKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.93%2.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)69.26%49.67%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

GPC

23.67

Distributors Industry

Max
28.99
Q3
25.04
Median
23.42
Q1
13.71
Min
6.24

GPC’s P/E Ratio of 23.67 is within the middle range for the Distributors 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

19.67

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
35.98
Q3
27.87
Median
16.15
Q1
14.38
Min
8.20

PKG’s P/E Ratio of 19.67 is within the middle range for the Containers & Packaging industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

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

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

GPC

0.81

Distributors Industry

Max
1.14
Q3
1.14
Median
0.96
Q1
0.61
Min
0.28

GPC’s P/S Ratio of 0.81 aligns with the market consensus for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

PKG

2.06

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
2.91
Q3
1.67
Median
0.83
Q1
0.64
Min
0.30

PKG’s P/S Ratio of 2.06 is in the upper echelon for the Containers & Packaging industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

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

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

GPC

3.58

Distributors Industry

Max
3.72
Q3
3.57
Median
3.12
Q1
2.41
Min
1.47

GPC’s P/B Ratio of 3.58 is in the upper tier for the Distributors 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.

PKG

3.66

Containers & Packaging Industry

Max
5.28
Q3
3.30
Median
2.35
Q1
1.57
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.

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

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolGPCPKG
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)23.6719.67
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)0.812.06
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)3.583.66
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)43.6128.54