AA vs. SW: Alcoa vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) both fall under the Materials industry group, but AA is classified in Metals & Mining while SW is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Profile Item	AA	SW
Name	Alcoa Corporation	Smurfit WestRock Plc
Country/Region	United States	Ireland
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Containers & Packaging
GICS Sub-Industry	Aluminum	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	10.44 billion USD	23.13 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	June 17, 2008
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GSPC

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

Calendar-year total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
Total Return (1Y)	12.55%	29.05%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.53%	14.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.46%	-0.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GSPC

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…

Distribution of monthly total returns for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	53.37%	42.69%
Beta (5Y)	1.80	0.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-75.46%	-53.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.61M	4.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AA and SW are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.16	0.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.23	0.94

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 20.58% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 2.57% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AA.

AA

Materials industry group

20.58%

Max: 52.88%
AA: 20.58%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

SW

Materials industry group

2.57%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
SW: 2.57%
Q1: -3.41%
Min: -32.81%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 10.68% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.50% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

10.68%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
AA: 10.68%
Median: 5.28%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

SW

Materials industry group

1.50%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
SW: 1.50%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -20.40%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 16.01% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AA

Materials industry group

16.01%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
AA: 16.01%
Median: 12.56%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

SW

Materials industry group

6.38%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
SW: 6.38%
Q1: 3.28%
Min: -14.07%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
ROE (TTM)	20.58%	2.57%
ROA (TTM)	7.52%	2.50%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.68%	1.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)	16.01%	6.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)	22.76%	17.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Alcoa (AA) at 7.87% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alcoa (AA) at 1,600.00% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 62.20%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.87%	47.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.01%	32.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1,600.00%	62.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-30.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 2.31 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AA

Materials industry group

2.31

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
AA: 2.31
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

SW

Materials industry group

1.48

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
SW: 1.48
Q1: 1.45
Min: 0.16

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alcoa (AA) at 0.58 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

AA

Materials industry group

0.58

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
AA: 0.58
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

SW

Materials industry group

0.78

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
SW: 0.78
Median: 0.47
Q1: 0.13
Min: 0.00

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.31	1.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.58	0.78
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.14	2.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Alcoa (AA) at 1.04% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SW the richer one.

AA

Materials industry group

1.04%

Max: 4.52%
Q3: 1.85%
AA: 1.04%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SW

Materials industry group

4.02%

Max: 4.52%
SW: 4.02%
Q3: 1.85%
Median: 0.38%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) reports payout ratio above 100% at 198.63%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Alcoa (AA) reports 6.96%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AA

Materials industry group

6.96%

Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
AA: 6.96%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SW

Materials industry group

198.63%

SW: 198.63%
Max: 83.62%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.04%	4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	6.96%	198.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 6.88 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 48.99 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

AA

Materials industry group

6.88

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
AA: 6.88
Min: 3.93

SW

Materials industry group

48.99

Max: 59.00
SW: 48.99
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
Min: 3.93

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alcoa (AA) at 0.73 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 prices around its industry’s middle — AA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AA

Materials industry group

0.73

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
AA: 0.73
Min: 0.00

SW

Materials industry group

0.73

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
SW: 0.73
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.00

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Alcoa (AA) at 1.27 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AA

Materials industry group

1.27

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
AA: 1.27
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

SW

Materials industry group

1.28

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
SW: 1.28
Q1: 1.26
Min: -0.17

Alcoa (AA) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alcoa (AA) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AA	SW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	6.88	48.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.73	0.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.27	1.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	8.80%	4.26%