Packaging Corporation of America vs Upstart Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Packaging Corporation of America trades at $228.27 (market cap $20.33B), while Upstart Holdings Inc trades at $28.65 (market cap $2.80B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is far larger — about 7.3× Upstart Holdings Inc's market cap, and Packaging Corporation of America pays a 2.63% dividend while Upstart Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PKG | UPST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.33B | $2.80B |
Sector | Technology | Financials |
52-Week High | $246.31 | $84.13 |
52-Week Low | $191.41 | $24.22 |
Enterprise Value | $24.16B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.63% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
Upstart Holdings (UPST) trades at $29.27, down 0.81% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but improving fundamentals. The company reported a net income of $53.60 million in 2025, marking a significant turnaround from prior losses. Recent news highlights AI-driven lending growth and a $600 million funding deal with Neuberger Berman, though quarterly earnings have been mixed with a recent miss in Q1 2026.
The stock presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity, supported by analyst consensus targets near $42.00 but challenged by volatile cash flows and rising debt. Key risks include execution on new loan products and macroeconomic sensitivity, while institutional sentiment remains divided with a 45% buy rating. Near-term direction hinges on Q2 2026 results due August 4, 2026.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Upstart Holdings Inc provides credit services. The company provides a proprietary, cloud-based, artificial intelligence lending platform. The platform aggregates consumer demand for loans and connects it to the network of Upstart AI-enabled bank partners. The revenue of the company is primarily comprised of fees paid by banks.
Read more on UPST →