PKG vs. VMC: Packaging Corp of America vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison
How do Packaging Corp of America (PKG) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but PKG is classified in Containers & Packaging while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Packaging Corporation of America | Vulcan Materials Company |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Containers & Packaging | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 22.25 billion USD | 36.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 28, 2000 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 31.07% | 2.25% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 21.13% | 12.53% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.23% | 8.08% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.35% | 30.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.76 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.78% | -32.50% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 624.28K | 1.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.49 | -0.09 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Vulcan Materials (VMC) earns 12.88% 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
- --
VMC
Materials industry group
12.88%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- VMC
- 12.88%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.40% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 13.78% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
13.78%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- VMC
- 13.78%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 14.97% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
23.95%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- VMC
- 23.95%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 12.88% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 5.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 7.40% | 13.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 14.97% | 23.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 21.24% | 27.48% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 7.23% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at -3.92% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.23% | 7.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.97% | 2.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.92% | 18.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -8.03% | 23.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Vulcan Materials (VMC) shows current ratio of 1.43 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
- --
VMC
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- VMC
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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.
PKG
Materials industry group
0.94
- Max
- 1.98
- PKG
- 0.94
- Q3
- 0.89
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- VMC
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.94 | 0.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.92 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.21% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
0.72%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- VMC
- 0.72%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 24.26% 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%
VMC
Materials industry group
24.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- VMC
- 24.26%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 0.72% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 67.82% | 24.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 30.79 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 33.46 sits in the richer quartile — VMC needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
PKG
Materials industry group
30.79
- Max
- 59.00
- Q3
- 32.93
- PKG
- 30.79
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
VMC
Materials industry group
33.46
- Max
- 59.00
- VMC
- 33.46
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 2.26 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 sits in the pricier quartile — VMC costs more per dollar of sales.
PKG
Materials industry group
2.26
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- PKG
- 2.26
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
4.53
- Max
- 9.62
- VMC
- 4.53
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Packaging Corp of America (PKG) at 4.74 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
PKG
Materials industry group
4.74
- Max
- 6.59
- PKG
- 4.74
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
VMC
Materials industry group
4.31
- Max
- 6.59
- VMC
- 4.31
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PKG | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.79 | 33.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.26 | 4.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.74 | 4.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | 1.96% |