Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) is a global provider of sustainable paper-based packaging solutions. It manufactures containerboard, corrugated containers, consumer packaging, and specialty products, including solid board, kraft paper, paper sacks, and bag-in-box.
With a market capitalization of about $22.6 billion, Smurfit Westrock sits in the “large-cap” league, comfortably above the $10 billion mark, reaching food, beverage, retail, e-commerce, and industrial customers in over 40 countries.
The stock has had its fair share of bumps. SW shares have slipped more than 25.8% from a 52-week high of $56.99 in November 2024. Over the last three months, the stock has edged lower, while in stark contrast, the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 8.4% during the same stretch.
Over the past 52 weeks, SW stock has declined 11.6%, and year-to-date it is down 21.5%. On the flip side, the broader index has climbed 15.4% in the past year and 12.3% year-to-date.
As of this month, shares of SW have been trading below its 50-day moving average of $45.09 and its 200-day moving average of $46.88, signaling that investors are treading cautiously.
The latest earnings report did little to lift sentiment. On July 30, the stock dropped another 1.7% after the company reported Q2 2025 results that revealed a net loss of $26 million, compared to a net profit of $132 million in last year’s quarter. Restructuring costs weighed heavily, with $280 million in charges tied to previously announced closures and cost-saving moves.
Still, the top line showed some resilience. Net sales stood at $7.9 billion, rising 167.4% year over year, while adjusted EBITDA reached $1.21 billion, also up 152.7% year over year. Without the restructuring impact, results landed in line with its adjusted EBITDA guidance.
Looking ahead, Smurfit Westrock’s management expects adjusted EBITDA of roughly $1.3 billion for the next quarter and has maintained its full-year forecast between $5 billion and $5.2 billion, provided current market conditions hold steady.
Meanwhile, the company could see long-term support from rising packaging needs fueled by booming e-commerce activity and steady demand across food, beverage, and healthcare markets.
To put SW’s performance into perspective, its rival Ball Corporation (BALL) is down 27% over the past 52 weeks and 12.1% in 2025.
Despite the current industry headwinds and weak price action, analysts remain constructive on SW’s prospects. Out of 16 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a “Strong Buy,” and the mean price target of $57.21 signals a premium of 35.3% to current levels.
