IFF vs. PKG: Intl Flavors & Fragrances vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Profile Item	IFF	PKG
Name	International Flavors & Fragrances, 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	Specialty Chemicals	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	20.69 billion USD	22.25 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 17, 1974	January 28, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IFF

PKG

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
Total Return (1Y)	40.13%	31.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	8.28%	21.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-8.71%	17.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IFF

PKG

GSPC

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	36.26%	28.35%
Beta (5Y)	0.88	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-56.66%	-31.78%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.88M	624.28K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

IFF 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.99	0.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.71	1.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE value reported for this period; Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) reports a negative figure of -7.37%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.

IFF

Materials industry group

-7.37%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
IFF: -7.37%
Min: -32.81%

PKG

Materials industry group

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

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.68% 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.68%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
IFF: 1.68%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 9.53% 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

9.53%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
IFF: 9.53%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
ROE (TTM)	-7.37%	--
ROA (TTM)	2.18%	--
Net Margin (TTM)	1.68%	7.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)	9.53%	14.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.27%	21.24%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -5.17% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at -248.42% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-5.17%	7.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-4.34%	1.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-248.42%	-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: Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) shows current ratio of 1.87 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.87

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
IFF: 1.87
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: --

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 0.51 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 uses more debt funding than most peers.

IFF

Materials industry group

0.51

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
IFF: 0.51
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.87	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.51	0.94
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.51	1.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.85% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.85%

Max: 4.52%
IFF: 1.85%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 62.26% and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 67.82% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

IFF

Materials industry group

62.26%

Max: 83.62%
IFF: 62.26%
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%

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.85%	2.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	62.26%	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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 236.06 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for IFF’s trailing earnings.

IFF

Materials industry group

236.06

IFF: 236.06
Max: 59.00
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) 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 Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.91 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.91

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
IFF: 1.91
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) at 1.56 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.

IFF

Materials industry group

1.56

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
IFF: 1.56
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

Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Intl Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	IFF	PKG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	236.06	30.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.91	2.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.56	4.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-10.66%	--