PepsiCo, Inc. vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? PepsiCo, Inc. trades at $135.89 (market cap $184.26B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $222.5 (market cap $20.33B). The key difference: PepsiCo, Inc. is far larger — about 9.1× Packaging Corporation of America's market cap, and PepsiCo, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.39%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PEP | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $184.26B | $20.33B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $170.44 | $246.31 |
52-Week Low | $134.98 | $191.41 |
Enterprise Value | $226.76B | $24.16B |
Dividend Yield | 4.39% | 2.63% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
PepsiCo (PEP) trades at $135.65, up 0.14% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported revenue of $93.93B in 2025 with a net income margin of 10.78%, and has beaten EPS estimates in three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights price cuts on snacks like Doritos to address consumer pushback, while analysts anticipate Q1 2026 results.
The outlook is mixed: strong profitability and dividend yield near 4% support value, but price sensitivity and debt levels pose risks. Analyst consensus is a $158.79 price target with a 'Hold' bias. Investors should weigh earnings consistency against margin pressures from recent pricing strategies.
Packaging Corp of America (PKG) trades at $228.43, down 1.99% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company maintains solid fundamentals with $8.99B revenue and 8.04% net margin, though recent earnings show mixed performance with Q1 2026 beating estimates but Q3/Q4 2025 missing. A 20% dividend increase to $6.00 annually reflects management confidence. Analyst consensus is mixed with 34.62% buy ratings and a $256.14 price target suggesting 12% upside potential.
PKG presents a balanced investment case with attractive dividend yield and analyst upside, but faces earnings volatility and margin pressure. The upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on July 22 will be crucial for confirming growth trajectory. Key risks include integration challenges from the Greif acquisition and ongoing cost pressures affecting profitability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies globally. It makes, markets, and sells a slew of brands across the beverage and snack categories, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Lays, and Ruffles. The firm uses a largely integrated go-to-market model, though it does leverage third-party bottlers, contract manufacturers, and distributors in certain markets. In addition to company-owned trademarks, Pepsi manufactures and distributes other brands through partnerships and joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks. The firm segments its operations into five primary geographies, with North America (comprising Frito-Lay North America, Quaker Foods North America, and North America beverages) constituting around 60% of consolidated revenue.
Read more on PEP →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 →