Dollar General Corp. vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Dollar General Corp. trades at $119.27 (market cap $26.50B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $225.8 (market cap $20.11B). The key difference: Dollar General Corp. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays the higher dividend (2.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DG | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.50B | $20.11B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $156.26 | $246.31 |
52-Week Low | $95.94 | $191.41 |
Enterprise Value | $40.95B | $23.94B |
Dividend Yield | 1.96% | 2.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Dollar General (DG) trades at $123.44, up 3.8% with strong technical momentum and bullish analyst sentiment. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.00 exceeding expectations of $1.89. Revenue growth continues at $40.61B for 2025, while profit margins face pressure at 3.63%. Recent news highlights the company's back-to-school initiatives and margin expansion efforts.
The outlook remains positive with a $128.45 consensus price target representing 4% upside. Key opportunities include continued same-store sales growth and margin recovery, while risks involve consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures in discount retail. The technical setup suggests near-term resistance around $125-$128 levels.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $225.86, down 1.27% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but oversold RSI near support at $225. Recent Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $2.40, though revenue growth is modest and net income margins are projected to decline. The company announced a 20% dividend increase to $6.00 annually, signaling confidence in cash flow. Analyst consensus is mixed with a Hold rating but a $254.43 price target implies 13% upside from current levels.
Outlook is cautiously optimistic given valuation support from dividends and earnings beats, but risks include margin pressure from input costs and a negative net cash flow trend. The stock's investment case hinges on execution against Q2 guidance of $2.33 EPS and management's ability to navigate cost inflation. Near-term price action will be driven by the July 23 earnings call results.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A leading American discount retailer, Dollar General operates over 18,000 stores in 47 states, selling branded and private-label products across a wide variety of categories. In fiscal 2021, 77% of net sales came from consumables (including paper and cleaning products, packaged and perishable food, tobacco, and health and beauty items), 12% from seasonal merchandise (such as toys, greeting cards, decorations, and gardening supplies), 7% from home products (for example, kitchen supplies, small appliances, and cookware), and 4% from basic apparel. Stores average roughly 7,400 square feet, and about 75% of Dollar General locations are in towns of 20,000 or fewer people. The firm emphasizes value, with most of its items sold at everyday low prices of $5 or less.
Read more on DG →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 →