Kimberly-Clark (KMB) vs Sonoco Products (SON)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Sonoco Products (SON) has outperformed Kimberly-Clark (KMB) over the past year, gaining 12.4% versus a loss of 21.1%. Over five years, SON leads with a -22.1% price change compared with -27.6% for KMB. Kimberly-Clark is the larger company by market cap ($32.51 billion vs $4.79 billion), about 6.8 times the size, while Sonoco Products is growing revenue faster (+41.7% vs -2.1%).
On valuation, Sonoco Products trades at a lower forward P/E (7.7x vs 13.1x for Kimberly-Clark). Kimberly-Clark offers the higher dividend yield (5.20% vs 4.40%). Sonoco Products converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.3% versus 12.3%.
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 | KMB | SON |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $97.74 | $48.40 |
| Market cap | $32.51B | $4.79B |
| 1-day change | +1.31% | +1.38% |
| YTD return | -4.37% | +9.40% |
| 1-year return | -21.13% | +12.41% |
| 5-year return | -27.64% | -22.12% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.28 | 7.49 |
| Forward P/E | 13.09 | 7.68 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.07 | $6.46 |
| Dividend yield | 5.20% | 4.40% |
| Annual dividend | $5.08 | $2.13 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $16.45B | $7.52B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -2.13% | +41.72% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.02B | $1.00B |
| Gross margin | 36.01% | 20.94% |
| Operating margin | 14.29% | 13.54% |
| Net margin | 12.29% | 13.34% |
| 52-week high | $123.09 | $60.67 |
| 52-week low | $92.42 | $38.65 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.59% | -20.22% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.55% | +26.26% |
| Average volume | 3.88M | 1.11M |
| Shares outstanding | 332.58M | 98.88M |
| Employees | 36,000 | 22,000 |
| 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
- Kimberly-Clark is about 6.8 times larger than Sonoco Products by market value ($32.51B vs $4.79B).
- SON has outperformed KMB by 33.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Kimberly-Clark trades at a higher earnings multiple (19.3x vs 7.5x trailing P/E).
- Sonoco Products grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+41.72% vs -2.13%).
About Kimberly-Clark
KMB stock →Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care products in the United States. It operates in two segments, North America and International Personal Care.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 36,000 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
KMB vs SON FAQ
Which is bigger, Kimberly-Clark or Sonoco Products?
Kimberly-Clark (KMB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $32.51B compared with $4.79B for Sonoco Products (SON).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KMB or SON?
SON returned +12.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -21.13% for KMB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KMB or SON?
SON has the lower trailing P/E at 7.5, versus 19.3 for KMB. 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, Kimberly-Clark or Sonoco Products?
Kimberly-Clark has the higher yield at 5.20%, compared with 4.40% for Sonoco Products.
Are Kimberly-Clark and Sonoco Products in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Containers/Packaging industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.