Packaging Corporation of America vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? Packaging Corporation of America trades at $230.22 (market cap $20.49B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $278.53 (market cap $165.27B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is far larger — about 8.1× Packaging Corporation of America's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays the higher dividend (2.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Packaging Corporation of America for 45 Days and Union Pacific Corporation for 105 Days on average.
| PKG | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.49B | $165.27B |
Volume | 493,499 | 1,474,117 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $257.43 | $310.62 |
52-Week Low | $191.68 | $216.37 |
Typical Hold Time | 45 Days | 105 Days |
Enterprise Value | $24.30B | $194.33B |
Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 2.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $229.06, up 0.8% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings performance. The stock shows strong profitability with a 7.26% net income margin and 14.79% ROE, though 2026 profit margins are projected to decline. Recent news highlights institutional buying and a steady dividend, while analyst consensus is a $272.43 price target with a 'Hold' bias.
PKG offers value through its dividend and stable business model but faces headwinds from cost pressures and negative cash flow trends. The stock's near-term performance hinges on Q3 2026 earnings results, with risks including margin compression and economic sensitivity. Upside exists if the company beats expectations and manages costs effectively.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $277.51, up 1.03% with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows robust profitability with 28.85% net margins and 39.7% ROE, supported by consecutive earnings beats in Q1 and Q2 2026. Recent developments include the deployment of battery-electric locomotives and progress on the Norfolk Southern combination, while analyst consensus remains strongly positive with a $332.10 price target.
UNP presents a compelling investment case with strong operational execution and pricing power, though merger uncertainty and fuel cost pressures pose near-term risks. The stock's current valuation at 22.53 P/E offers reasonable upside to analyst targets, supported by consistent dividend payments and infrastructure advantages in the irreplaceable freight rail network.
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 →Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific is the largest public railroad in North America. Operating on more than 30,000 miles of track in the western two thirds of the U.S., UP generated roughly $22 billion of revenue in 2021 by hauling coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, and automotive goods. UP owns about one fourth of Mexican railroad Ferromex and derives about 10% of its revenue hauling freight to and from Mexico.
Read more on UNP →