Greif (GEF) vs Sonoco Products (SON)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Greif (GEF) has outperformed Sonoco Products (SON) over the past year, gaining 37.5% versus a gain of 12.4%. Over five years, GEF leads with a +27.6% price change compared with -22.1% for SON. Sonoco Products is the larger company by market cap ($4.72 billion vs $4.67 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Sonoco Products trades at a lower forward P/E (7.6x vs 17.2x for Greif). Greif offers the higher dividend yield (5.04% vs 4.46%).
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 | GEF | SON |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $82.17 | $47.74 |
| Market cap | $4.67B | $4.72B |
| 1-day change | -0.45% | -0.58% |
| YTD return | +21.37% | +9.40% |
| 1-year return | +37.55% | +12.41% |
| 5-year return | +27.59% | -22.12% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 37.18 | 7.39 |
| Forward P/E | 17.23 | 7.57 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.21 | $6.46 |
| Dividend yield | 5.04% | 4.46% |
| Annual dividend | $4.14 | $2.13 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $7.52B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +41.72% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $1.00B |
| Gross margin | — | 20.94% |
| Operating margin | — | 13.54% |
| Net margin | — | 13.34% |
| 52-week high | $90.57 | $60.67 |
| 52-week low | $55.75 | $38.65 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.27% | -21.31% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +7.34% | +28.01% |
| Average volume | 313.16K | 1.11M |
| Shares outstanding | 24.81M | 98.88M |
| Employees | 12,000 | 22,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Packaging & Containers | 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
- GEF has outperformed SON by 25.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Greif trades at a higher earnings multiple (37.2x vs 7.4x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Greif in Consumer Cyclical and Sonoco Products in Consumer Discretionary.
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
About Sonoco Products
SON stock →Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 22,000 employees
GEF vs SON FAQ
Which is bigger, Greif or Sonoco Products?
Sonoco Products (SON) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.72B compared with $4.67B for Greif (GEF).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GEF or SON?
GEF returned +37.55% over the past 12 months, compared with +12.41% for SON (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, GEF or SON?
SON has the lower trailing P/E at 7.4, versus 37.2 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, Greif or Sonoco Products?
Greif has the higher yield at 5.04%, compared with 4.46% for Sonoco Products.
Are Greif and Sonoco Products in the same industry?
No. Greif is in the Consumer Cyclical sector, while Sonoco Products is in Consumer Discretionary.