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Dublin, Ireland-based Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in North America and internationally. The company has a market cap of $25.8 billion and produces containerboard and paperboard, corrugated containers, consumer packaging, and offers solid board, kraft paper, and graphic board, among others.
SW stock has lagged behind the broader market over the past year, growing 11.3% compared to the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 20.2% surge. Moreover, in 2026, the stock has risen nearly 27.4%, outperforming the SPX’s 13.2% rise.
Focusing on its industry benchmark, the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) has grown 4% over the past year, lagging behind the stock. In 2026, XLY has fallen 1.3% and has also underperformed the stock.
On July 29, SW stock fell 5% following the release of its Q2 2026 earnings. The company’s revenue for the quarter amounted to $8 billion, rising 1% from the previous year’s quarter and surpassing the Street’s estimates. However, its adjusted EPS fell 20% from the year-ago quarter to $0.35 and failed to touch Wall Street’s forecasts. Management cited higher fuel costs and shipping rates for the miss, leading to rising freight costs.
For the current year, which ends in December, analysts expect SW’s EPS to grow marginally to $2.06 on a diluted basis. The company has failed to surpass the consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters.
However, among the 18 analysts covering SW stock, the consensus is a “Strong Buy.” That’s based on 15 “Strong Buy” ratings, two “Moderate Buys,” and one “Hold.”
The configuration has remained unchanged over the past few months.
On Aug. 5, J.P. Morgan analyst Detlef Winckelmann maintained a “Buy” rating for SW stock and set a price target of $68.
SW’s mean price target of $56.83 indicates a premium of 15.4% from the current market price. Its Street-high target of $68 implies a robust 38.1% upside from current levels.
