Avery Dennison (AVY) vs Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Avery Dennison (AVY) has outperformed Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS) over the past year, gaining 3.5% versus a loss of 8.9%. Over five years, WMS leads with a +11.6% price change compared with -20.4% for AVY. Avery Dennison is the larger company by market cap ($12.65 billion vs $9.51 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while Advanced Drainage Systems is growing revenue faster (+5.0% vs +1.1%).
On valuation, Avery Dennison trades at a lower forward P/E (14.9x vs 17.2x for Advanced Drainage Systems). Avery Dennison offers the higher dividend yield (2.29% vs 0.59%). Advanced Drainage Systems converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.0% versus 7.8%.
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 | WMS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $166.97 | $126.08 |
| Market cap | $12.65B | $9.51B |
| 1-day change | -0.88% | -3.07% |
| YTD return | -8.20% | -12.95% |
| 1-year return | +3.47% | -8.88% |
| 5-year return | -20.40% | +11.63% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.29 | 21.48 |
| Forward P/E | 14.93 | 17.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | $9.13 | $5.87 |
| Dividend yield | 2.29% | 0.59% |
| Annual dividend | $3.82 | $0.74 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $8.86B | $3.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +1.14% | +5.03% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $688.00M | $426.46M |
| Gross margin | 28.75% | 38.27% |
| Operating margin | — | 20.30% |
| Net margin | 7.77% | 13.98% |
| 52-week high | $199.54 | $179.32 |
| 52-week low | $152.42 | $124.39 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.32% | -29.69% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +19.54% | +45.07% |
| Average volume | 907.18K | 702.62K |
| Shares outstanding | 75.79M | 75.41M |
| Employees | 35,000 | 6,425 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | Containers/Packaging |
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
- AVY has outperformed WMS by 12.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Avery Dennison offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.29% vs 0.59%).
- Advanced Drainage Systems is more profitable, keeping 14.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 7.8 cents for Avery Dennison.
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 Advanced Drainage Systems
WMS stock →Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products in the United States, Canada, and internationally.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 6,425 employees
AVY vs WMS FAQ
Which is bigger, Avery Dennison or Advanced Drainage Systems?
Avery Dennison (AVY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $12.65B compared with $9.51B for Advanced Drainage Systems (WMS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AVY or WMS?
AVY returned +3.47% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.88% for WMS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AVY or WMS?
AVY has the lower trailing P/E at 18.3, versus 21.5 for WMS. 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 Advanced Drainage Systems?
Avery Dennison has the higher yield at 2.29%, compared with 0.59% for Advanced Drainage Systems.
Are Avery Dennison and Advanced Drainage Systems in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Containers/Packaging industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.