Smurfit Westrock's stock plummets 28% in a month after weak Q4 earnings
Smurfit Westrock Plc (SW), a major producer of containerboard and paper-based packaging, has faced a challenging year. The company's stock has dropped sharply, falling 26.3% from its 52-week peak of $52.65. Recent earnings reports and market trends have added to investor concerns.
SW released its Q4 2025 results on February 11, revealing revenue of $7.6 billion—below Wall Street expectations. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) also missed targets, coming in at $0.34. Despite the disappointing figures, the stock briefly surged 9.9% on the day of the announcement.
Since then, however, SW's performance has weakened. As of March 19, 2026, the stock had plummeted 28.57% over the past month, including a 4.76% drop on that day alone. Over the longer term, shares have fallen 24.94% in a year and 29.54% since a key earlier period. The company has struggled in the packaging sector following its merger with WestRock, despite maintaining steady dividend payments. SW remains a large-cap company with a market capitalisation of $20.3 billion. Its stock has consistently traded below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages this month. While the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 8% over the past 52 weeks, SW declined by 13.8%. However, in the last three months, SW outperformed the index, rising 1.8% compared to the Dow's 5.6% drop. Looking ahead, SW projects an adjusted EBITDA compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7% between 2026 and 2030.
SW's stock continues to face downward pressure, reflecting broader challenges in the packaging industry. The company's recent earnings miss and ongoing market struggles have overshadowed its long-term growth forecasts. Investors will be watching closely to see if upcoming quarters bring a turnaround.
