Core Points - The article provides a monthly disclosure of share capital and voting rights for Sodexo as of October 31, 2025, detailing the total number of shares and voting rights [1][2][4] - Sodexo is a leader in Food and Services, founded in 1966, with a focus on improving everyday experiences and contributing to social and environmental progress [3][5] Share Capital and Voting Rights - As of October 31, 2025, Sodexo has a total of 147,454,887 shares, with actual voting rights amounting to 216,925,069 and theoretical voting rights at 218,448,801 [1] - Actual voting rights exclude treasury shares and registered shares held for more than four years, which have double voting rights [1][2] Company Overview - Sodexo operates in 43 countries, serving 80 million consumers daily, and employs 426,000 individuals as of August 31, 2025 [5] - The company reported consolidated revenues of 24.1 billion euros for fiscal 2025 and has a market capitalization of 8.3 billion euros as of October 22, 2025 [5]

Core Insights - The sales of corrugated boxes in the U.S. continue to weaken, raising concerns about a disappointing holiday shopping season this year [1] - The third quarter saw the lowest shipment volume of corrugated boxes since 2015, continuing a trend of weakness from the second quarter [1][4] - Major companies in the packaging sector have warned that economic uncertainty is impacting retail and consumer spending [1] Industry Overview - Corrugated boxes are crucial packaging materials for food, daily necessities, and e-commerce shipping, often seen as a leading indicator of retail demand [4] - Typically, October sees a surge in box orders for retailers to stock up for the holiday season, but this year is notably sluggish [4] - A media survey indicated that most box factories reported October orders as "flat or below normal levels" [4] Consumer Confidence and Economic Indicators - The U.S. consumer confidence index has dropped to a five-month low, and manufacturing activity has contracted for eight consecutive months [4] - Thomas Hassfurther, President of Packaging Corporation of America, noted a lack of economic momentum and highlighted ongoing trade uncertainties affecting business [4] Company Performance - Smurfit Westrock reported an 8.7% year-over-year decline in box volume in North America for the third quarter, leading to a stock price drop of over 12%, marking the lowest closing price since its listing in July 2024 [4] - International Paper lowered its net sales forecast for this year and 2027, with a nearly 13% drop in stock price following the announcement [5] - CEO Andy Silvernail of International Paper projected a 1% to 1.5% decline in corrugated box shipments for 2024, attributing this to trade uncertainties, weak consumer confidence, and a sluggish real estate market [5] Market Outlook - Industry experts believe that the weak demand for corrugated boxes reflects a lack of manufacturing and retail restocking activity, suggesting that this year's holiday shopping season may fall short of previous years [5] - E-commerce, department stores, and durable goods sectors are facing heightened operational uncertainties [5]

Group 1 - The article discusses the role of buy-side hedge professionals who conduct fundamental, income-oriented, long-term analysis across various sectors in developed markets globally [1] - It emphasizes the importance of sharing ideas and engaging in discussions among professionals in the investment community [1] Group 2 - The analyst has disclosed a beneficial long position in the shares of specific companies, indicating a personal investment interest [2] - The article reflects the author's own opinions and is not influenced by compensation from any company mentioned [2] Group 3 - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results, highlighting the inherent uncertainties in investment [3] - The platform does not provide specific investment recommendations and notes that opinions may not represent the views of Seeking Alpha as a whole [3]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway reported a significant increase in Q3 2025 earnings, reflecting strong performance under Warren Buffett's leadership [1] Financial Performance - The conglomerate's net earnings attributable to shareholders showed a remarkable growth compared to previous quarters [1] - Specific figures regarding revenue and profit margins were highlighted, indicating a robust financial health [1] Leadership and Strategy - Warren Buffett's strategic decisions continue to drive the company's success, showcasing his effective management style [1] - The company's diversified portfolio remains a key factor in its strong performance [1]

Core Insights - Sodexo's Fiscal 2025 Universal Registration Document (URD) was filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) on October 31, 2025, and is available on both Sodexo's and AMF's websites [1] Company Overview - Founded in 1966 in Marseille by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is a leader in Food and Services, focusing on enhancing everyday experiences across various sectors such as work, health, education, and leisure [2] - The company is characterized by its independence, family shareholding, and a responsible business model aimed at improving the quality of life for employees and clients while contributing to economic, social, and environmental progress [2] - Sodexo is included in several indices, including CAC Next 20, Bloomberg France 40, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good, and DJSI [2] Key Financial Figures - For Fiscal 2025, Sodexo reported consolidated revenues of €24.1 billion [5] - As of August 31, 2025, the company employed 426,000 people and served 80 million consumers daily across 43 countries [5] - The market capitalization of Sodexo was €8.3 billion as of October 22, 2025 [5] Financial Statements and Reports - The URD includes statutory and consolidated financial statements for Fiscal 2025, auditors' reports, a management report covering corporate governance and sustainability, and information on internal control and risk management [4] - The document also presents resolutions for the Combined Shareholders Meeting scheduled for December 16, 2025, and details on fees paid to Statutory Auditors and the share buyback program [4]

Core Insights - Smurfit Westrock's equity faced a significant decline, with a drop of over 16% week to date following disappointing quarterly earnings [1] Financial Performance - The company reported third-quarter net sales of slightly over $8 billion, marking a 4% year-over-year increase and surpassing the average analyst estimate of $7.89 billion [2] - Smurfit's net income according to GAAP was $245 million, a turnaround from a loss of $150 million in the previous year, while non-GAAP adjusted net income per share rose to $0.58 from $0.53, falling short of the expected $0.72 [3] Market Sentiment - CEO Tony Smurfit indicated that 2025 has been challenging in terms of demand, and the company is taking steps to rationalize its business [4] - Following the earnings release, several analysts lowered their price targets for Smurfit's stock, contributing to negative sentiment, although the adjustments were not drastic [5]

Core Insights - Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) reported earnings of 58 cents per share in Q3 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 68 cents by 14.7% [1][11] - The company's net sales for Q3 2025 were $8 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.98 billion, and up from $7.67 billion in the year-ago quarter [3][11] - The adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $1.3 billion, slightly up from $1.26 billion in the previous year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.3% compared to 16.5% a year ago [5][11] Financial Performance - The cost of sales in Q3 2025 was $6.43 billion, a 1.8% increase year over year, while gross profit rose 16% to $1.57 billion, resulting in a gross margin of 19.6%, up from 17.6% in the prior year [4] - Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 4.7% year over year to $960 million, and operating profit significantly improved to $526 million from $55 million in the year-ago quarter [4][11] - The company announced a quarterly dividend of 43.08 cents per share, payable on December 18, 2025 [9] Segment Performance - The Europe, MEA & APAC segment reported sales of $2.82 billion, a 6.5% increase year over year, with adjusted EBITDA rising 2% to $419 million [6] - The North America segment's sales were $4.6 billion, a 2% increase from the previous year, with adjusted EBITDA rising 4% to $810 million [7] - The LATAM segment achieved sales of $545 million, up 10% year over year, with adjusted EBITDA remaining stable at $116 million [8] Outlook - Smurfit Westrock has lowered its FY25 adjusted EBITDA outlook to $4.9-$5.1 billion, down from the previous estimate of $5-$5.2 billion, due to planned downtime in Q4 [12][11] - The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $4.7 billion for 2024 [12] Stock Performance - Smurfit Westrock's shares have declined by 26.5% over the past year, compared to a 16.7% decline in the industry [13]

Core Insights - Smurfit Westrock reported $8 billion in revenue for the quarter ended September 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.3% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the same period was $0.58, compared to $0.48 a year ago, indicating a positive trend in profitability [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.98 billion by 0.32%, while the EPS fell short of the consensus estimate of $0.68 by 14.71% [1] Revenue Performance - Net sales from unaffiliated customers in Europe, MEA, and APAC reached $2.82 billion, slightly above the two-analyst average estimate of $2.8 billion [4] - Net sales in LATAM were reported at $545 million, exceeding the two-analyst average estimate of $505.97 million [4] - North America net sales matched the analyst estimate at $4.64 billion [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Smurfit Westrock shares returned +1.2%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by +3.8% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Smurfit Westrock reported quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.68 per share, but showing an increase from $0.48 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of -14.71% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $8 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.32% and increasing from $7.67 billion year-over-year [2] - Smurfit Westrock shares have declined approximately 20% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 17.2% [3] Earnings Outlook - The earnings outlook for Smurfit Westrock is mixed, with the current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter at $0.64 on revenues of $7.8 billion, and $2.25 on revenues of $31.66 billion for the current fiscal year [7] - The company's Zacks Rank is currently 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Paper and Related Products industry, to which Smurfit Westrock belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 6% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Another company in the same industry, International Paper, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.53 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 20.5%, with revenues anticipated to be $6.89 billion, up 47% from the previous year [9][10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $1.3 billion for Q3 2025, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.3% [4][14] - Operating cash flow was $1.1 billion, and adjusted free cash flow was approximately $850 million [7][14] - Net sales for the group reached $8 billion, with North America contributing $4.7 billion in net sales and an adjusted EBITDA of $810 million, reflecting a margin of 17.2% [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America showed an adjusted EBITDA margin improvement to 17.2%, despite a 7.5% decline in box volumes [15] - EMEA and APAC reported an adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.8%, with net sales of $2.8 billion, demonstrating resilience in a challenging market [16][17] - Latin America achieved an adjusted EBITDA margin of over 21%, with net sales of $500 million, driven by strong market positions in Brazil and central clusters [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The North American market experienced a 3% to 4% decline in demand, while the company’s volume loss was approximately 5% due to strategic decisions [42] - In Latin America, demand showed marked improvement, with significant growth in Colombia (8%), Chile (15%), and Peru (25%) [11][18] - The European market remains challenging, particularly in Germany, which continues to lag behind other regions [62] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing its asset base through the closure of inefficient operations and transitioning to a value-over-volume strategy [5][8] - A synergy program is in place, aiming for $400 million in full run-rate savings by the end of the year [21] - The company plans to maintain a flexible capital allocation framework, with a CapEx target of $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion for 2026 [20][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's positioning for future growth despite a muted economic outlook [25] - The company anticipates that the current economic challenges will eventually lead to a sharp recovery in demand [31] - Management highlighted the importance of continuous cost reduction programs to mitigate wage inflation and operational challenges [32] Other Important Information - The company has initiated global and regional leadership programs for over 300 managers to enhance performance and accountability [12] - A significant headcount reduction of over 4,500 employees has been implemented to streamline operations [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expedite cost takeout in Europe given the current market weakness? - Management indicated that they have optimized capacity in Europe and are actively pursuing cost reduction programs, although the market remains challenging [30][32] Question: How did demand trend in September and October? - Management noted that they expected an uptick in October but did not see it, attributing some of the lost business to previous unprofitable contracts [36][37] Question: What is the expected EBITDA impact from the economic downtime in Q4? - The estimated EBITDA impact from the downtime is between $60 million and $70 million, primarily affecting North America [43] Question: How is the company addressing inventory levels in North America? - Management acknowledged that inventory levels are higher than desired but expect improvements as they optimize supply chains [45][46] Question: What factors are driving the shift from CRB to SBS? - The shift is driven by the competitive pricing of SBS and its superior qualities, such as brightness and printability [34][75] Question: What are the uncertainties affecting the revised guidance? - The uncertainties primarily revolve around demand trends and the performance in December, which is typically a swing factor for the quarter [92]