Carlyle Group Inc vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Carlyle Group Inc trades at $48.19 (market cap $17.20B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $258.15 (market cap $22.70B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is the larger of the two by market cap, and Carlyle Group Inc pays the higher dividend (2.93%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CG | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $17.20B | $22.70B |
Sector | Financials | Technology |
52-Week High | $69.35 | $256.04 |
52-Week Low | $40.52 | $191.68 |
Dividend Yield | 2.93% | 2.36% |
Enterprise Value | — | $26.51B |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CG trades at $47.79, down 2.23% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support at $47. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations (EPS $1.07 vs. $0.911), though revenue declined to $2.9B in 2026. The company maintains a strong net income margin of 18.85% and announced strategic partnerships, including a $600M deal with Prime Capital Financial (Business Wire, 2026-08-06).
Outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $59.14 price target (53.84% buy ratings), but risks include volatile cash flow from operations (-$4.2B in 2026) and high P/E of 49.78. Investors may see upside from fundraising strength, though margin compression and macroeconomic headwinds warrant caution.
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
The Carlyle Group is one of the world's largest alternative-asset managers, with $376.4 billion in total assets under management, including $259.6 billion in fee-earning AUM, at the end of June 2022. The company has three core business segments: private equity, which includes private equity, real estate, infrastructure and natural resources funds (accounting for 41% of fee-earning AUM and 65% of base management fees during 2021), global credit (45% and 24%) and investment solutions (14% and 11%). The firm primarily serves institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals. Carlyle operates through 29 offices across five continents, serving close to 2,700 active carry fund investors from 95 countries.
Read more on CG →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 →