JHX vs. PKG: James Hardie Industries vs. Packaging Corp of America Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG) both fall under the Materials industry group, but JHX is classified in Construction Materials while PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Profile Item	JHX	PKG
Name	James Hardie Industries plc	Packaging Corporation of America
Country/Region	Ireland	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Construction Materials	Containers & Packaging
GICS Sub-Industry	Construction Materials	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	16.20 billion USD	22.25 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 22, 2001	January 28, 2000
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JHX

PKG

GSPC

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
Total Return (1Y)	72.20%	31.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	0.38%	21.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-5.23%	17.23%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JHX

PKG

GSPC

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	44.97%	28.35%
Beta (5Y)	1.74	0.76
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-60.26%	-31.78%
Avg. Volume (3M)	9.36M	624.28K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

JHX 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.51	0.95
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.59	1.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: James Hardie Industries (JHX) earns 5.46% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE this period.

JHX

Materials industry group

5.46%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
JHX: 5.46%
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: --

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; JHX is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22% 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

6.22%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
JHX: 6.22%
Median: 5.28%
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%

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56% 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

19.56%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
JHX: 19.56%
Median: 12.56%
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%

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
ROE (TTM)	5.46%	--
ROA (TTM)	4.42%	--
Net Margin (TTM)	6.22%	7.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)	19.56%	14.97%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.25%	21.24%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% 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.

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	24.71%	7.23%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.59%	1.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-80.61%	-3.92%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-45.13%	-8.03%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: James Hardie Industries (JHX) shows current ratio of 2.12 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.12

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
JHX: 2.12
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: --

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): PKG does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; JHX is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 uses more debt funding than most peers.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.63

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
JHX: 0.63
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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.12	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.63	0.94
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.43	1.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Packaging Corp of America (PKG) reports a yield of 2.21%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
JHX: 0.00%
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%

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Packaging Corp of America (PKG) reports a payout of 67.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
JHX: 0.00%
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%

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	2.21%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 sits in the richer quartile — JHX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

JHX

Materials industry group

48.02

Max: 59.00
JHX: 48.02
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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.86

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
JHX: 2.86
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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.41

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
JHX: 2.41
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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Packaging Corp of America (PKG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Packaging Corp of America (PKG)
Metric	JHX	PKG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	48.02	30.79
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.86	2.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.41	4.74
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	0.98%	--