Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) is among the ridiculously cheap stocks to buy now. As of December 26, Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) has a ‘Buy’ or equivalent rating from the majority of the analysts covering the stock. With a target price range of $44.50 to $63, the median price target of $52 translates to an upside potential of 34.23% from the current price. On December 22, Michael Roxland, an analyst at Truist Financial, maintained a ‘Buy’ rating on the stock, while setting a price target of $50. This re ...

Company Overview - Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) has a market cap of $18.5 billion and is a leading North American producer of containerboard and uncoated freesheet paper, operating through two segments: Packaging and Paper [1][2] Stock Performance - PKG shares have declined 15.4% from their 52-week high of $242.68, with a 5.4% drop over the past three months, underperforming the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLB) 2.6% dip [3][4] - Year-to-date, PKG stock is down 8.8%, lagging behind XLB's 7.3% rise, and has decreased nearly 14% over the past 52 weeks compared to XLB's marginal drop [4] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, PKG reported adjusted EPS of $2.73, which was weaker than expected, but shares rose 2.2% the following day due to revenue of $2.31 billion exceeding forecasts and improving from $2.2 billion a year earlier [5] - The company achieved $503.4 million in EBITDA excluding special items and solid Packaging segment operating income of $347.9 million [5] Future Outlook - Management projected Q4 EPS of $2.40 excluding special items and highlighted expected improvements from the newly acquired Greif containerboard business [6] - Analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook for PKG, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 11 analysts and a mean price target of $231.90, representing a nearly 13% premium to current levels [7]

Core Insights - Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW) is a leading global player in fiber-based paper and packaging solutions with a market cap of $18.5 billion, operating in 40 countries and serving significant markets such as food and beverage, e-commerce, retail, and industrial sectors [1] Financial Performance - For Q3, Smurfit Westrock reported revenues of $8 billion, an increase from $7.7 billion year-over-year, and achieved a profit of $245 million compared to a loss in the prior year, supported by strong operating cash flow of $1.1 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $579 million [4] - The company delivered $1.3 billion in adjusted EBITDA with a margin of 16.3%, but faced investor concerns due to continued margin pressure and a challenging demand environment [5] Stock Performance - Over the past year, Smurfit Westrock shares have declined by 31.5%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 14.1% during the same period [2] - The stock also lagged behind the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund, which saw a 6.9% decline over the past year [3] Analyst Ratings and Expectations - Analysts expect SW's EPS to marginally decrease to $2.06 for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with a mixed earnings surprise history [6] - The consensus rating among 17 analysts is a "Strong Buy," with 14 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and one "Hold" [6] - Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain reiterated an "Overweight" rating but significantly reduced the price target from $63 to $47, indicating a 25% downward revision [7]

Group 1 - Smurfit Westrock is considered a cheap stock with potential for the next 5 years, with JPMorgan raising its price target to $61 from $60 while maintaining an Overweight rating [1][3] - In Q2, Smurfit Westrock reported a significant year-over-year revenue increase of 147.56%, totaling $7.94 billion, and achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of $1.213 billion, resulting in a 15.3% Adjusted EBITDA Margin [2] - The North American segment generated $4.8 billion in net sales with a 15.8% Adjusted EBITDA Margin, while Latin America showed exceptional performance with an Adjusted EBITDA Margin exceeding 23% [3] Group 2 - Smurfit Westrock specializes in manufacturing, distributing, and selling containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products [4]

Core Viewpoint - Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) is recognized as an attractive investment opportunity, particularly due to its valuation compared to peers and potential for growth in free cash flow and EBITDA [2][3]. Group 1: Investment Ratings and Price Target - UBS initiated coverage on Smurfit Westrock Plc with a Buy rating and a price target of $60, indicating strong investor interest [2]. - The company is currently trading at approximately 6.4x 2026 EV/EBITDA, which is lower than the 8-10x range of competitors like International Paper and Packaging Corporation of America, suggesting it is undervalued [2]. Group 2: Financial Projections - UBS anticipates a 4% increase in U.S. containerboard prices by 2026, which is expected to support a 10% increase in EBITDA [2]. - The potential for free cash flow is projected to increase by 230% [2]. Group 3: Historical Performance and Future Synergies - Smurfit Westrock has a strong history of returns on invested capital, averaging 14.7% over the past decade, which may help narrow the valuation gap with peers [3]. - UBS projects that synergy gains could exceed $800 million by 2030, indicating significant operational efficiencies [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Smurfit Westrock operates globally, producing and selling consumer packaging, corrugated containers, containerboard, and paper-based solutions across North America, Europe, and other international markets [4].

Core Insights - International Paper reported Q2 2025 results, highlighting the impact of the DS Smith acquisition, with GAAP revenue reaching $6.8 billion, exceeding analyst expectations [1][2] - Non-GAAP EPS of $0.20 fell short of the $0.39 estimate, reflecting challenges from higher costs and integration expenses [1][2] - Net earnings (GAAP) dropped to $75 million from $498 million in Q2 2024, indicating an 84.9% decline [1][2] Financial Performance - Revenue (GAAP) increased by 44.7% year-over-year, from $4.7 billion in Q2 2024 to $6.8 billion in Q2 2025 [2] - Non-GAAP EPS decreased by 63.6% from $0.55 in Q2 2024 to $0.20 in Q2 2025 [2] - Free cash flow (non-GAAP) fell by 67.7% from $167 million in Q2 2024 to $54 million in Q2 2025 [2] Operational Highlights - The integration of DS Smith is now reflected in the North America and EMEA Packaging Solutions segments, with North America segment profit rising to $277 million [5] - EMEA sales reached $2.3 billion, but the segment reported a $1 million operating loss due to integration costs and subdued demand [5] - Global Cellulose Fibers segment sales declined to $628 million, resulting in a $4 million loss, attributed to downtime and higher operating expenses [6] Strategic Focus - The company is concentrating on transforming core operations through the DS Smith acquisition and a strategic 80/20 approach to enhance efficiency and reduce costs [4] - Future success hinges on effective integration of DS Smith, achieving cost savings, and leading in sustainable packaging innovations [4] Shareholder and Debt Information - Shareholders received $488 million in dividends during the first half of 2025, while long-term debt increased to $9.7 billion as of June 30, 2025 [9] - The acquisition expanded the employee base to 65,000, reflecting the scale of the transaction [9] Future Outlook - Management is optimistic about Q3, anticipating increased global revenue and earnings as integration progresses [11] - Caution is advised regarding potential softness in European markets that may limit the benefits of price increases [11] - The company aims to improve full-year EBITDA and achieve synergy and cost-out targets, with a focus on margin recovery and cost efficiencies [12]