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PKG vs. SQM: Packaging Corp of America vs. Sociedad Química y Minera Stock Comparison

How do Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) both fall under the Materials industry group, but PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging while SQM is classified in Chemicals.

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
Profile ItemPKGSQM
NamePackaging Corporation of AmericaSociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesChile
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingChemicals
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsSpecialty Chemicals
Market Capitalization22.25 billion USD16.43 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 28, 2000September 21, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PKG
SQM
GSPC
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
Total Return (1Y)31.07%19.41%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.13%7.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.23%1.46%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PKG
SQM
GSPC
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM). 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.35%47.10%
Beta (5Y)0.761.10
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.78%-69.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)624.28K953.31K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PKG and SQM 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.950.32
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.490.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) earns 21.82% 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
--

SQM

Materials industry group

21.82%

Max
52.88%
SQM
21.82%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): PKG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; SQM is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 20.62% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.40%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

PKG

Materials industry group

7.40%

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

SQM

Materials industry group

20.62%

Max
38.66%
SQM
20.62%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 48.82% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 14.97%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

PKG

Materials industry group

14.97%

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

SQM

Materials industry group

48.82%

Max
66.70%
SQM
48.82%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
ROE (TTM)--21.82%
ROA (TTM)--11.55%
Net Margin (TTM)7.40%20.62%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.97%48.82%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.24%42.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 1.05% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at -14.16% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.23%1.05%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.97%-24.68%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.92%-14.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.03%-46.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) shows current ratio of 2.61 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
--

SQM

Materials industry group

2.61

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
SQM
2.61
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): PKG does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; SQM is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 0.61 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

SQM

Materials industry group

0.61

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
SQM
0.61
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
Current Ratio (MRQ)--2.61
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.940.61
Net Debt / EBITDA1.920.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.55% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

PKG

Materials industry group

2.21%

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

SQM

Materials industry group

2.55%

Max
4.52%
SQM
2.55%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 21.19% 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%

SQM

Materials industry group

21.19%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
SQM
21.19%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)67.82%21.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 11.84 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SQM, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

PKG

Materials industry group

30.79

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

SQM

Materials industry group

11.84

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
SQM
11.84
Min
3.93
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): 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 Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.44 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

SQM

Materials industry group

2.44

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
SQM
2.44
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) at 2.60 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

SQM

Materials industry group

2.60

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
SQM
2.60
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM)
MetricPKGSQM
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.7911.84
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.262.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.742.60
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--15.94%