Ball (BALL) vs Packaging of America (PKG)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Ball (BALL) has outperformed Packaging of America (PKG) over the past year, gaining 18.7% versus a gain of 8.0%. Over five years, PKG leads with a +70.0% price change compared with -37.0% for BALL. Packaging of America is the larger company by market cap ($20.25 billion vs $15.22 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while Ball is growing revenue faster (+11.6% vs +7.2%).
On valuation, Ball trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 17.3x for Packaging of America). Packaging of America offers the higher dividend yield (2.31% vs 1.39%). Packaging of America converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 8.6% versus 7.0%.
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 | BALL | PKG |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $57.48 | $227.25 |
| Market cap | $15.22B | $20.25B |
| 1-day change | +0.09% | -1.08% |
| YTD return | +8.81% | +10.22% |
| 1-year return | +18.74% | +7.96% |
| 5-year return | -37.04% | +70.00% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.38 | 29.55 |
| Forward P/E | 12.71 | 17.29 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.51 | $7.69 |
| Dividend yield | 1.39% | 2.31% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $5.25 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $13.16B | $8.99B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +11.58% | +7.23% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $915.00M | $774.10M |
| Gross margin | 19.59% | 21.02% |
| Operating margin | — | 12.31% |
| Net margin | 6.95% | 8.61% |
| 52-week high | $68.29 | $259.98 |
| 52-week low | $44.83 | $191.50 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.83% | -12.59% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +25.02% | +13.93% |
| Average volume | 1.90M | 613.68K |
| Shares outstanding | 264.70M | 89.10M |
| Employees | 16,000 | 16,800 |
| Sector | Industrials | 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
- BALL has outperformed PKG by 10.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Packaging of America trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.6x vs 16.4x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Ball in Industrials and Packaging of America in Consumer Discretionary.
About Ball
BALL stock →Ball Corporation supplies aluminum packaging products for the beverage, personal care, and household products industries in the United States, Brazil, and internationally. The company manufactures and sells aluminum beverage containers to fillers of carbonated soft drinks, beer, energy drinks, and other beverages.
Industrials · Containers/Packaging · 16,000 employees
About Packaging of America
PKG stock →Packaging Corporation of America manufactures and sells containerboard and uncoated freesheet (UFS) paper products in North America. The company operates through Packaging and Paper segments.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 16,800 employees
BALL vs PKG FAQ
Which is bigger, Ball or Packaging of America?
Packaging of America (PKG) is larger, with a market capitalization of $20.25B compared with $15.22B for Ball (BALL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BALL or PKG?
BALL returned +18.74% over the past 12 months, compared with +7.96% for PKG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BALL or PKG?
BALL has the lower trailing P/E at 16.4, versus 29.6 for PKG. 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, Ball or Packaging of America?
Packaging of America has the higher yield at 2.31%, compared with 1.39% for Ball.
Are Ball and Packaging of America in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Containers/Packaging industry within the Industrials sector.