Is Smurfit Westrock Stock Underperforming the Nasdaq?

Company Overview - Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) is a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, formed through the merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, with a market cap of $19.7 billion [1] - The company operates across diverse industries, offering innovative and eco-friendly packaging products that cater to the evolving needs of businesses worldwide [1][2] Market Position - SW is categorized as a "large-cap stock," reflecting its significant presence and influence in the packaging and materials industry [2] - The company continues to drive sustainability and innovation, setting benchmarks for environmentally responsible practices [2] Stock Performance - SW stock prices have declined 32.2% from its 52-week high of $56.05 on January 24, and have decreased 13.7% over the past three months, underperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 1.9% increase during the same period [3] - On a year-to-date basis, SW stock prices have fallen 29.4%, and 29.5% over the past year, lagging behind the Nasdaq's 17.5% surge in 2025 and 12.9% returns over the past 52 weeks [4] - The stock has traded mostly below its 50-day and 100-day moving averages since early March, indicating a bearish trend [4] Recent Financial Results - Following the release of mixed Q3 results on October 29, SW's stock prices plummeted 12.2% in a single trading session [5] - The company's net sales for the quarter increased 4.3% year-over-year to $8 billion, beating expectations by 32 basis points [5] - However, profitability remains a challenge, with adjusted EPS rising 9.4% year-over-year to $0.58, missing consensus estimates by 14.7%, and a thin net margin of 3.1% on a GAAP basis [5] Peer Comparison - Compared to its peer, SW has notably underperformed Packaging Corporation of America's (PKG) 10.1% decline on a year-to-date basis and 13% drop over the past year [6]