UPS vs. PKG
UPS (United Parcel Service, Inc.) and PKG (Packaging Corporation of America) are both stocks. UPS operates in Integrated Freight & Logistics (Industrials), while PKG operates in Packaging & Containers (Consumer Cyclical). Over the past 10 years, UPS returned 4.19%/yr vs 15.57%/yr for PKG. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
UPS vs. PKG - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, UPS achieves a 11.95% return, which is significantly higher than PKG's 7.03% return. Over the past 10 years, UPS has underperformed PKG with an annualized return of 4.19%, while PKG has yielded a comparatively higher 15.57% annualized return.
UPS
- 1D
- -0.77%
- 1M
- 8.67%
- YTD
- 11.95%
- 6M
- 16.21%
- 1Y
- 17.16%
- 3Y*
- -9.35%
- 5Y*
- -7.66%
- 10Y*
- 4.19%
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%
UPS vs. PKG - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UPS United Parcel Service, Inc. | 11.95% | -15.93% | -15.93% | -5.96% | -16.21% | 30.02% | 48.64% | 24.24% | -15.48% | 7.14% |
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% |
Correlation
The correlation between UPS and PKG is 0.41, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.41 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 28, 2000 | 0.43 |
Fundamentals
UPS:
$91.55B
PKG:
$19.55B
UPS:
$6.18
PKG:
$8.25
UPS:
17.43
PKG:
26.58
UPS:
1.04
PKG:
2.14
UPS:
5.81
PKG:
4.26
UPS:
$88.34B
PKG:
$9.22B
UPS:
$16.03B
PKG:
$1.89B
UPS:
$10.63B
PKG:
$1.84B
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Return for Risk
UPS vs. PKG — Risk / Return Rank
UPS
PKG
UPS vs. PKG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) and Packaging Corporation of America (PKG). 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.
| UPS | PKG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.04 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.12 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.85 | 0.84 | +0.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.45 | 1.86 | -0.41 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| UPS | PKG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.59 | 0.54 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.27 | 0.48 | -0.76 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.15 | 0.57 | -0.42 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.19 | 0.47 | -0.28 |
Drawdowns
UPS vs. PKG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum UPS drawdown since its inception was -57.92%, smaller than the maximum PKG drawdown of -66.88%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UPS and PKG.
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Drawdown Indicators
| UPS | PKG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -57.92% | -66.88% | +8.96% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -20.28% | -17.21% | -3.07% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -50.71% | -28.43% | -22.28% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -57.92% | -31.78% | -26.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -57.92% | -38.18% | -19.74% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -42.43% | -10.39% | -32.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.31% | -11.72% | -3.59% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.89% | 7.81% | +4.08% |
Volatility
UPS vs. PKG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) is 6.35%, while Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) has a volatility of 8.19%. This indicates that UPS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PKG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| UPS | PKG | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.35% | 8.19% | -1.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.84% | 20.03% | +0.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 29.21% | 26.97% | +2.24% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 28.37% | 25.34% | +3.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 27.54% | 27.33% | +0.21% |
Dividends
UPS vs. PKG - Dividend Comparison
UPS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.09%, more than PKG's 2.28% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
UPS United Parcel Service, Inc. | 6.09% | 6.61% | 5.17% | 4.12% | 3.50% | 1.90% | 2.40% | 3.28% | 3.73% | 2.79% | 2.72% | 3.03% |
Financials
UPS vs. PKG - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between United Parcel Service, Inc. and Packaging Corporation of America. 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
UPS vs. PKG - Profitability Comparison
UPS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, United Parcel Service, Inc. reported a gross profit of 3.60B and revenue of 21.20B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 17.0%.
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%.
UPS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, United Parcel Service, Inc. reported an operating income of 1.27B and revenue of 21.20B, resulting in an operating margin of 6.0%.
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%.
UPS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, United Parcel Service, Inc. reported a net income of 864.00M and revenue of 21.20B, resulting in a net margin of 4.1%.
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%.
Frequently Asked Questions
UPS and PKG have a correlation of 0.41, 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 UPS (6.35%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UPS dropped -57.92% vs PKG's -66.88%.
UPS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.59 vs 0.54), 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.
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