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PKG vs. STLD: Packaging Corp of America vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison

How do Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) both fall under the Materials industry group, but PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging while STLD is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Profile ItemPKGSTLD
NamePackaging Corporation of AmericaSteel Dynamics, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsSteel
Market Capitalization22.25 billion USD31.70 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 28, 2000November 22, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PKG
STLD
GSPC
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
Total Return (1Y)31.07%52.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)21.13%29.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)17.23%30.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PKG
STLD
GSPC
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD). 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.35%36.62%
Beta (5Y)0.761.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.78%-32.20%
Avg. Volume (3M)624.28K1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PKG and STLD 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.951.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.491.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Steel Dynamics (STLD) earns 20.81% 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
--

STLD

Materials industry group

20.81%

Max
52.88%
STLD
20.81%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): PKG does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; STLD is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.40% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

8.82%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
STLD
8.82%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.46%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
STLD
15.46%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
ROE (TTM)--20.81%
ROA (TTM)--9.45%
Net Margin (TTM)7.40%8.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.97%15.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.24%15.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% 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. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% 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. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.23%3.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.97%-6.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.92%-18.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-8.03%-27.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Steel Dynamics (STLD) shows current ratio of 3.15 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
--

STLD

Materials industry group

3.15

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
STLD
3.15
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): PKG does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; STLD is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 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

STLD

Materials industry group

0.45

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
STLD
0.45
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
Current Ratio (MRQ)--3.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.940.45
Net Debt / EBITDA1.921.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

0.94%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
STLD
0.94%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.44% 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%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.44%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
STLD
15.44%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%0.94%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)67.82%15.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 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

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
STLD
16.46
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 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

STLD

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
STLD
1.43
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 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

STLD

Materials industry group

3.23

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
STLD
3.23
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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Packaging Corp of America (PKG) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricPKGSTLD
P/E Ratio (TTM)30.7916.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.261.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.743.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--1.36%