PKG vs. FAST
PKG (Packaging Corporation of America) and FAST (Fastenal Company) are both stocks. PKG operates in Packaging & Containers (Consumer Cyclical), while FAST operates in Industrial Distribution (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, PKG returned 15.57%/yr vs 18.29%/yr for FAST. At a 0.42 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
PKG vs. FAST - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, PKG achieves a 7.03% return, which is significantly lower than FAST's 15.88% return. Over the past 10 years, PKG has underperformed FAST with an annualized return of 15.57%, while FAST has yielded a comparatively higher 18.29% annualized return.
PKG
- 1D
- -1.52%
- 1M
- -2.30%
- YTD
- 7.03%
- 6M
- 12.85%
- 1Y
- 14.47%
- 3Y*
- 22.08%
- 5Y*
- 12.21%
- 10Y*
- 15.57%
FAST
- 1D
- -1.69%
- 1M
- 4.14%
- YTD
- 15.88%
- 6M
- 13.97%
- 1Y
- 11.66%
- 3Y*
- 21.78%
- 5Y*
- 14.55%
- 10Y*
- 18.29%
PKG vs. FAST - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PKG Packaging Corporation of America | 7.03% | -6.08% | 41.70% | 31.90% | -2.62% | 1.55% | 27.20% | 38.35% | -28.85% | 45.51% |
FAST Fastenal Company | 15.88% | 13.98% | 13.53% | 41.31% | -24.34% | 34.06% | 36.60% | 45.08% | -1.61% | 19.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between PKG and FAST is 0.44, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.44 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2000 | 0.42 |
Fundamentals
PKG:
$19.55B
FAST:
$52.94B
PKG:
$8.25
FAST:
$1.13
PKG:
26.58
FAST:
40.72
PKG:
35.03
FAST:
4.78
PKG:
2.14
FAST:
6.27
PKG:
4.26
FAST:
13.27
PKG:
$9.22B
FAST:
$8.44B
PKG:
$1.89B
FAST:
$3.79B
PKG:
$1.84B
FAST:
$1.80B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
PKG vs. FAST — Risk / Return Rank
PKG
FAST
PKG vs. FAST - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) and Fastenal Company (FAST). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| PKG | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.17 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.12 | 1.10 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.84 | 0.53 | +0.31 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.86 | 1.07 | +0.79 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| PKG | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.54 | 0.47 | +0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 0.60 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 | 0.69 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.47 | 0.53 | -0.06 |
Drawdowns
PKG vs. FAST - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum PKG drawdown since its inception was -66.88%, which is greater than FAST's maximum drawdown of -63.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PKG and FAST.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| PKG | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -66.88% | -63.43% | -3.45% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.21% | -21.90% | +4.69% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.43% | -21.90% | -6.53% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.78% | -30.71% | -1.07% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.18% | -30.71% | -7.47% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.39% | -7.24% | -3.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.72% | -12.17% | +0.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.81% | 10.94% | -3.13% |
Volatility
PKG vs. FAST - Volatility Comparison
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) has a higher volatility of 8.19% compared to Fastenal Company (FAST) at 6.42%. This indicates that PKG's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FAST based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| PKG | FAST | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.19% | 6.42% | +1.77% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.03% | 19.37% | +0.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.97% | 24.92% | +2.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 25.34% | 24.31% | +1.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.33% | 26.78% | +0.55% |
Dividends
PKG vs. FAST - Dividend Comparison
PKG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.28%, more than FAST's 2.00% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FAST Fastenal Company | 2.00% | 2.18% | 2.17% | 2.75% | 2.62% | 1.75% | 2.87% | 2.35% | 2.95% | 2.34% | 2.55% | 2.74% |
PKG Packaging Corporation of America | 2.28% | 2.42% | 2.22% | 3.07% | 3.71% | 2.94% | 2.44% | 2.82% | 3.59% | 2.09% | 2.78% | 3.49% |
Financials
PKG vs. FAST - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Packaging Corporation of America and Fastenal Company. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
PKG vs. FAST - Profitability Comparison
PKG - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Packaging Corporation of America reported a gross profit of 452.90M and revenue of 2.37B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 19.1%.
FAST - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Fastenal Company reported a gross profit of 982.90M and revenue of 2.20B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 44.6%.
PKG - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Packaging Corporation of America reported an operating income of 272.60M and revenue of 2.37B, resulting in an operating margin of 11.5%.
FAST - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Fastenal Company reported an operating income of 447.60M and revenue of 2.20B, resulting in an operating margin of 20.3%.
PKG - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Packaging Corporation of America reported a net income of 170.90M and revenue of 2.37B, resulting in a net margin of 7.2%.
FAST - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Fastenal Company reported a net income of 339.80M and revenue of 2.20B, resulting in a net margin of 15.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
PKG and FAST have a correlation of 0.44, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
PKG has higher volatility (8.19%) compared to FAST (6.42%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PKG dropped -66.88% vs FAST's -63.43%.
PKG currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.54 vs 0.47), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for PKG and FAST
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer