PKG vs. RS: Packaging Corp of America vs. Reliance Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS) 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

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS) both fall under the Materials industry group, but PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging while RS is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Profile Item	PKG	RS
Name	Packaging Corporation of America	Reliance, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Containers & Packaging	Metals & Mining
GICS Sub-Industry	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials	Steel
Market Capitalization	22.25 billion USD	21.24 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 28, 2000	September 16, 1994
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PKG

GSPC

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS), 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
Total Return (1Y)	31.07%	54.53%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	21.13%	18.36%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.23%	22.28%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PKG

GSPC

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS), 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.35%	25.64%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.78%	-22.32%
Avg. Volume (3M)	624.28K	311.43K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PKG and RS 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 Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.95	1.96
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.49	2.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Reliance (RS) earns 14.75% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no ROE this period.

PKG

Materials industry group

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

RS

Materials industry group

14.75%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
RS: 14.75%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.40% and Reliance (RS) at 6.38% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

PKG

Materials industry group

7.40%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
PKG: 7.40%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

RS

Materials industry group

6.38%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
RS: 6.38%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 14.97% and Reliance (RS) at 10.63% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

PKG

Materials industry group

14.97%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
PKG: 14.97%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

RS

Materials industry group

10.63%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
RS: 10.63%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
ROE (TTM)	--	14.75%
ROA (TTM)	--	8.83%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.40%	6.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)	14.97%	10.63%
Gross Margin (TTM)	21.24%	28.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% and Reliance (RS) at 3.32% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% and Reliance (RS) at -10.15% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.23%	3.32%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.97%	-5.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.92%	-10.15%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-8.03%	-22.40%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Reliance (RS) shows current ratio of 4.12 against its industry benchmark, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) has no reading this period.

PKG

Materials industry group

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16
PKG: --

RS

Materials industry group

4.12

Max: 5.96
RS: 4.12
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Reliance (RS) at 0.25 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 0.94 uses more debt funding than most peers.

PKG

Materials industry group

0.94

Max: 1.98
PKG: 0.94
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

RS

Materials industry group

0.25

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
Median: 0.47
RS: 0.25
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	--	4.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.94	0.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.92	0.93

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Reliance (RS) at 1.20% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, PKG the richer one.

PKG

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max: 4.52%
PKG: 2.21%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RS

Materials industry group

1.20%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
RS: 1.20%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Reliance (RS) at 23.08% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 67.82% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

PKG

Materials industry group

67.82%

Max: 83.62%
PKG: 67.82%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RS

Materials industry group

23.08%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
RS: 23.08%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.21%	1.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	67.82%	23.08%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 and Reliance (RS) at 19.44 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

PKG

Materials industry group

30.79

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
PKG: 30.79
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

RS

Materials industry group

19.44

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
RS: 19.44
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.26 and Reliance (RS) at 1.22 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

PKG

Materials industry group

2.26

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
PKG: 2.26
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

RS

Materials industry group

1.22

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
RS: 1.22
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Reliance (RS) at 2.75 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.

PKG

Materials industry group

4.74

Max: 6.59
PKG: 4.74
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

RS

Materials industry group

2.75

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
RS: 2.75
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Reliance (RS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Reliance (RS)
Metric	PKG	RS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	30.79	19.44
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.26	1.22
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.74	2.75
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	1.19%