IP vs. PKG: International Paper vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison
How do International Paper (IP) 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
International Paper (IP) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) are both classified in the Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials sub-industry within the broader Containers & Packaging industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | International Paper Co. | Packaging Corporation of America |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Containers & Packaging | Containers & Packaging |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 18.29 billion USD | 22.25 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | January 28, 2000 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -2.70% | 31.07% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 6.64% | 21.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -2.14% | 17.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.71% | 28.35% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.96 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.61% | -31.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.09M | 624.28K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.16 | 0.95 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | 1.49 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE value reported for this period; International Paper (IP) reports a negative figure of -22.30%, which needs context because negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity.
IP
Materials industry group
-22.30%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- IP
- -22.30%
- 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)
International Paper (IP) reports a negative net margin of -14.32%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Packaging Corp of America (PKG) reports 7.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.
IP
Materials industry group
-14.32%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- IP
- -14.32%
- 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 International Paper (IP) at 5.89% 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.
IP
Materials industry group
5.89%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- IP
- 5.89%
- 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 | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -22.30% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.60% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -14.32% | 7.40% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 5.89% | 14.97% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 29.78% | 21.24% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
International Paper (IP) at 49.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for IP.
EPS Growth
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while International Paper (IP) at -542.68% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 49.25% | 7.23% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.75% | 1.97% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -542.68% | -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: International Paper (IP) shows current ratio of 0.99 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.
IP
Materials industry group
0.99
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- IP
- 0.99
- 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)
International Paper (IP) at 0.79 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 uses more debt funding than most peers.
IP
Materials industry group
0.79
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- IP
- 0.79
- 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 | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.99 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.79 | 0.94 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.40 | 1.92 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; International Paper (IP) at 5.40% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.
IP
Materials industry group
5.40%
- IP
- 5.40%
- Max
- 4.52%
- 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)
International Paper (IP) reports payout ratio above 100% at 402.17%, 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.
IP
Materials industry group
402.17%
- IP
- 402.17%
- 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 | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 5.40% | 2.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 402.17% | 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 International Paper (IP) has no P/E ratio this period.
IP
Materials industry group
--
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
- IP
- --
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)
On P/S ratio, both International Paper (IP) at 0.76 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.
IP
Materials industry group
0.76
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- IP
- 0.76
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
International Paper (IP) at 1.39 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.
IP
Materials industry group
1.39
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- IP
- 1.39
- 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 | IP | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 30.79 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.76 | 2.26 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.39 | 4.74 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 12.53% | -- |