Packaging Corporation of America vs Ulta Beauty Inc — how do they compare? Packaging Corporation of America trades at $231.22 (market cap $20.25B), while Ulta Beauty Inc trades at $562.39 (market cap $23.32B). The key difference: Ulta Beauty Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays a 2.64% dividend while Ulta Beauty Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Packaging Corporation of America for 45 Days and Ulta Beauty Inc for 92 Days on average.
| PKG | ULTA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.25B | $23.32B |
Volume | 491,102 | 321,683 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $257.43 | $706.82 |
52-Week Low | $191.68 | $450.75 |
Typical Hold Time | 45 Days | 92 Days |
Enterprise Value | $24.06B | $25.63B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $227.25, down 1.08% with bearish technical signals despite recent earnings beats. The company maintains solid fundamentals with $9.5B revenue projection for 2026 and 7.25% net margin, though facing margin compression from cost pressures. Recent institutional buying by BlackRock and Bank of New York Mellon contrasts with mixed analyst ratings.
PKG offers steady packaging demand exposure but faces headwinds from rising input costs and competitive pressures. The 19.8% upside to consensus price target of $272.43 presents opportunity, though investors should monitor Q3 2026 earnings results on October 22 for margin trajectory confirmation amid bearish technical indicators.
ULTA trades at $564.21, up 3.09% today, with a bullish technical outlook and strong analyst support. The stock has shown robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q1 and Q2 2026 exceeding expectations, and the company raised its 2026 guidance. Revenue growth is steady, though net margins have softened slightly from 12.17% in 2023 to 10.63% in 2025. Valuation ratios like a P/E of 19.86 and P/S of 1.86 appear reasonable relative to profitability metrics such as a 46.12% ROE.
The investment case hinges on execution of raised guidance and e-commerce momentum, but risks include margin pressure and flat store traffic. With a consensus price target of $624.93 implying ~11% upside and no sell ratings from analysts, the stock presents a growth opportunity tempered by near-term consumer and competitive challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →With more than 1,300 stores and a partnership with Target, Ulta Beauty is the largest specialized beauty retailer in the U.S. The firm offers makeup (43% of 2021 sales), fragrances, skin care, and hair care products (20% of 2021 sales), and bath and body items. Ulta offers private-label products and merchandise from more than 500 vendors. It also offers salon services, including hair, makeup, skin, and brow services, in all stores. Most Ulta stores are approximately 10,000 square feet and are in suburban strip centers. Ulta was founded in 1990 and is based in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Read more on ULTA →