Is PKG or SW cheaper?

On trailing earnings, PKG is cheaper: PKG trades at a 27.31 P/E and SW at 58.74.

Which has grown faster, PKG or SW?

Over the past five years, SW grew revenue faster — PKG at a 6.41% CAGR versus SW at 24.07%.

Does PKG or SW pay a bigger dividend?

PKG yields 2.67% and SW yields 4.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is PKG or SW more profitable?

PKG runs the higher net margin — PKG at 8.03% versus SW at 1.23%.

Which has been the better investment, PKG or SW?

Over the past 10-year, PKG delivered the higher annualized total return — PKG at 15.65% versus SW at 4.41%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) vs Smurfit Westrock plc (SW)

PKG leads on 9 of 17 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of Packaging Corporation of America and Smurfit Westrock plc across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of July 9, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

PKG

Packaging Corporation of America

$20.00B

$224.49Consumer Cyclical

Smurfit Westrock plc

$22.55B

$42.99Consumer Cyclical

Total return — PKG vs SW

growth of $100 · last 18y

PKG +839.6%SW +416.3%PKG compounded faster

PKG SW

PKG vs SW: by the numbers

•SW is the larger company ($22.55B vs $20.00B market cap).
•PKG trades at the lower earnings multiple (27.31 vs 58.74 P/E).
•PKG converts more revenue to profit (8.03% vs 1.23% net margin).
•SW grew revenue faster over the past five years (24.07% vs 6.41% CAGR).
•SW pays the higher dividend yield (4.30% vs 2.67%).

Which is better, PKG or SW?

Metric tally: PKG 9 · SW 8

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValuePKG(lower P/E)

GrowthSW(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeSW(higher dividend yield)

QualityPKG(higher ROIC)

Metrics side by side

Valuation

Metric	PKG	SW
P/E ratio	27.31●	58.74
Forward P/E	21.71	18.01●
P/S ratio	2.17	0.75●
P/B ratio	4.36	1.26●
PEG ratio	2.25	0.43●
EV / EBITDA	12.27	8.12●
FCF yield	3.51%	4.51%●

Profitability

Metric	PKG	SW
Gross margin	20.48%●	18.42%
Operating margin	13.16%●	6.24%
Net margin	8.03%●	1.23%
ROE	16.14%●	2.06%
ROIC	9.44%●	3.59%

Dividends

Metric	PKG	SW
Dividend yield	2.67%	4.30%●
Payout ratio	69.69%	135.01%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	PKG	SW
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	6.41%	24.07%●
EPS CAGR (5Y)	12.12%●	-16.43%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	4.94%●	-3.68%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	13.82%●	-0.41%

Frequently asked

Which is better, PKG or SW?: It depends on your goal. value: PKG (lower P/E); growth: SW (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: SW (higher dividend yield); quality: PKG (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, PKG leads 9 to 8.
Is PKG or SW cheaper?: On trailing earnings, PKG is cheaper: PKG trades at a 27.31 P/E and SW at 58.74.
Which has grown faster, PKG or SW?: Over the past five years, SW grew revenue faster — PKG at a 6.41% CAGR versus SW at 24.07%.
Does PKG or SW pay a bigger dividend?: PKG yields 2.67% and SW yields 4.30% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is PKG or SW more profitable?: PKG runs the higher net margin — PKG at 8.03% versus SW at 1.23%.
Which has been the better investment, PKG or SW?: Over the past 10-year, PKG delivered the higher annualized total return — PKG at 15.65% versus SW at 4.41%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full PKG analysis Full SW analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

Packaging Corporation of America P/E ratio Smurfit Westrock P/E ratio Packaging Corporation of America dividend yield Smurfit Westrock dividend yield Packaging Corporation of America ROE Smurfit Westrock ROE Packaging Corporation of America operating margin Smurfit Westrock operating margin Packaging Corporation of America revenue growth Smurfit Westrock revenue growth Packaging Corporation of America free cash flow Smurfit Westrock free cash flow

Packaging Corporation of America & Smurfit Westrock appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Fastest Revenue Growth Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks Best 10-Year Total Return Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified July 9, 2026.