Packaging Corporation of America vs Wendys Co — how do they compare? Packaging Corporation of America trades at $228.27 (market cap $20.33B), while Wendys Co trades at $7.4 (market cap $1.45B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is far larger — about 14× Wendys Co's market cap, and Wendys Co pays the higher dividend (7.34%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| PKG | WEN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $20.33B | $1.45B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $246.31 | $11.33 |
52-Week Low | $191.41 | $6.17 |
Enterprise Value | $24.16B | $5.27B |
Dividend Yield | 2.63% | 7.34% |
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.
Wendy's (WEN) trades at $7.63, down 1.68% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and recent meme stock momentum. The company shows consistent earnings beats but faces margin pressure, with net income declining from $204M in 2023 to $165M in 2025. Valuation metrics appear attractive with a P/E of 10.2 and P/S of 0.69, while analyst consensus is mixed with a $7.96 price target.
The stock presents a value opportunity with solid dividends and low valuation, but investors face risks from declining profitability, high debt levels, and competitive pressures. Near-term catalysts include Q2 2026 earnings on August 7 and ongoing Project Fresh initiatives, though weak traffic and cost inflation remain headwinds for sustained growth.
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 →The Wendy's Company is the second-largest burger quick-service restaurant, or QSR, chain in the United States by systemwide sales, with $11.1 billion in 2021, narrowly edging Burger King ($10.3 billion) and clocking in well behind wide-moat McDonald's ($45.7 billion). After divestitures of Tim Hortons (2006) and Arby's (2011), the firm manages just the burger banner, generating sales across a footprint that spans almost 7,000 total units in 30 countries. Wendy's generates revenue from the sale of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and fries throughout its company-owned footprint, through franchise royalty and marketing fund payments remitted by its franchisees, which account for 94% of stores, and through franchise flipping and advisory fees.
Read more on WEN →