Avery Dennison (AVY) vs Greif (GEF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Greif (GEF) has outperformed Avery Dennison (AVY) over the past year, gaining 34.9% versus a gain of 3.5%. Over five years, GEF leads with a +27.1% price change compared with -20.1% for AVY. Avery Dennison is the larger company by market cap ($12.70 billion vs $4.65 billion), about 2.7 times the size, while Greif is growing revenue faster (+4.3% vs +1.1%).
On valuation, Avery Dennison trades at a lower forward P/E (15.0x vs 17.2x for Greif). Greif offers the higher dividend yield (5.06% vs 2.28%). Avery Dennison converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.8% versus 6.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AVY | GEF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $167.62 | $81.88 |
| Market cap | $12.70B | $4.65B |
| 1-day change | +0.39% | -0.35% |
| YTD return | -7.84% | +20.95% |
| 1-year return | +3.49% | +34.94% |
| 5-year return | -20.09% | +27.14% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.36 | 37.05 |
| Forward P/E | 14.99 | 17.17 |
| EPS (TTM) | $9.13 | $2.21 |
| Dividend yield | 2.28% | 5.06% |
| Annual dividend | $3.82 | $4.14 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $8.86B | $4.35B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.14% | +4.30% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $688.00M | $268.80M |
| Gross margin | 28.75% | 20.65% |
| Operating margin | — | 7.76% |
| Net margin | 7.77% | 6.17% |
| 52-week high | $199.54 | $90.57 |
| 52-week low | $152.42 | $55.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.00% | -9.59% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +19.08% | +7.72% |
| Average volume | 904.33K | 317.48K |
| Shares outstanding | 75.79M | 24.81M |
| Employees | 35,000 | 12,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | Packaging & Containers |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Avery Dennison is about 2.7 times larger than Greif by market value ($12.70B vs $4.65B).
- GEF has outperformed AVY by 31.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Greif trades at a higher earnings multiple (37.0x vs 18.4x trailing P/E).
- Greif offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.06% vs 2.28%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Avery Dennison in Consumer Discretionary and Greif in Consumer Cyclical.
About Avery Dennison
AVY stock →Avery Dennison Corporation operates as a materials science and digital identification solutions company in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It offers pressure-sensitive label materials, which consist of papers, plastic films, and metal foils; performance tapes products, including mechanical fasteners, which are precision-extruded and injection-molded plastic devices; and other pressure-sensitive adhesive-based materials and converted products under the Fasson, JAC, and Avery Dennison brands.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 35,000 employees
About Greif
GEF stock →Greif, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells industrial packaging products and services worldwide. It operates in four segments: Customized Polymer Solutions; Durable Metal Solutions; Sustainable Fiber Solutions; and Integrated Solutions.
Consumer Cyclical · Packaging & Containers · 12,000 employees
AVY vs GEF FAQ
Which is bigger, Avery Dennison or Greif?
Avery Dennison (AVY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $12.70B compared with $4.65B for Greif (GEF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AVY or GEF?
GEF returned +34.94% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.49% for AVY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AVY or GEF?
AVY has the lower trailing P/E at 18.4, versus 37.0 for GEF. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Avery Dennison or Greif?
Greif has the higher yield at 5.06%, compared with 2.28% for Avery Dennison.
Are Avery Dennison and Greif in the same industry?
No. Avery Dennison is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Greif is in Consumer Cyclical.