Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock trades at $355.18 (market cap $9.39B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $257.25 (market cap $22.70B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is far larger — about 2.4× Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays a 2.36% dividend while Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A Common Stock pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BIO | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $9.39B | $22.70B |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $354.54 | $256.04 |
52-Week Low | $241.71 | $191.68 |
Enterprise Value | $9.14B | $26.51B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.36% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
BIO trades at $352.47, up 2.93% today, near its consensus price target of $350. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals, though RSI levels indicate overbought conditions. Fundamentally, Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $2.62 EPS, but revenue remains flat at $2.58 billion in 2025. The company has returned to profitability with a net income of $759.9 million after losses in prior years, supported by a solid gross margin of 51.9%.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic with analyst consensus at Buy (53.85%), but high P/E of 43.18 suggests premium valuation. Risks include revenue stagnation and sensitivity to academic research funding. Upside is supported by positive cash flow trends and institutional accumulation, yet investors should weigh valuation against growth prospects.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $256.04, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages and strong support at $252. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.35, beating estimates, driven by record corrugated shipments and contributions from the Greif acquisition, though net income margins face pressure from rising costs. A $1.50 dividend for H1-2026 reflects management's confidence, with a consensus price target of $269.33 suggesting modest upside.
Outlook: PKG benefits from robust demand and strategic acquisitions, but cost headwinds and a high P/E of 33.08 pose valuation risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 34.6% buy ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid margin compression and economic uncertainties. Key risks include freight and input cost inflation, competitive pricing pressure, and execution of integration synergies.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Bio-Rad Laboratories, headquartered in Hercules, California, develops, manufactures, and markets products and solutions for the clinical diagnostics and life sciences markets. In diagnostics (53% of sales), Bio-Rad manufactures, sells, and supports test systems and specialized quality controls for clinical laboratories. In life sciences (47% of sales), the firm develops and manufactures a range of instruments and reagents used in research, biopharmaceutical production, and food testing. The company is geographically diverse, with major markets in the Americas (42% of 2021 sales), Europe and Africa (33%), and Asia-Pacific (25%). Bio-Rad owns 37% of Sartorius AG, a laboratory and biopharmaceutical supplier.
Read more on BIO →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →