AVY vs. SW: Avery Dennison vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Avery Dennison (AVY) 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

Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) are both classified in the Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials sub-industry within the broader Containers & Packaging industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Profile Item	AVY	SW
Name	Avery Dennison Corporation	Smurfit WestRock Plc
Country/Region	United States	Ireland
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Containers & Packaging	Containers & Packaging
GICS Sub-Industry	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	14.10 billion USD	23.13 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 21, 1973	June 17, 2008
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AVY

GSPC

Avery Dennison (AVY) 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

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Trailing total returns for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
Total Return (1Y)	10.80%	29.05%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	3.97%	14.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.88%	-0.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AVY

GSPC

Avery Dennison (AVY) 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

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	24.05%	42.69%
Beta (5Y)	0.75	0.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-31.73%	-53.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)	836.04K	4.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AVY 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.27	0.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.43	0.94

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Avery Dennison (AVY) at 30.80% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 2.57% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AVY.

AVY

Materials industry group

30.80%

Max: 52.88%
AVY: 30.80%
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%

Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 7.56% 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.

AVY

Materials industry group

7.56%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
AVY: 7.56%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 12.10% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AVY

Materials industry group

12.10%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
AVY: 12.10%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
ROE (TTM)	30.80%	2.57%
ROA (TTM)	8.28%	2.50%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.56%	1.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)	12.10%	6.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)	28.83%	17.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.14% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.

Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 0.69% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 62.20% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Avery Dennison (AVY) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.14%	47.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.68%	32.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	0.69%	62.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.54%	-30.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.16 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AVY.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.16

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
Q1: 1.45
AVY: 1.16
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.52 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.52

Max: 1.98
AVY: 1.52
Q3: 0.89
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

Avery Dennison (AVY) 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.16	1.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.52	0.78
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.20	2.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 2.05% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

AVY

Materials industry group

2.05%

Max: 4.52%
AVY: 2.05%
Q3: 1.85%
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%

Avery Dennison (AVY) 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 Avery Dennison (AVY) reports 41.99%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AVY

Materials industry group

41.99%

Max: 83.62%
AVY: 41.99%
Q3: 41.37%
Median: 9.54%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.05%	4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	41.99%	198.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Avery Dennison (AVY) at 20.21 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 48.99 sits in the richer quartile — SW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AVY

Materials industry group

20.21

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
AVY: 20.21
Median: 18.82
Q1: 11.96
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Avery Dennison (AVY) at 1.51 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AVY

Materials industry group

1.51

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
AVY: 1.51
Q1: 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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Avery Dennison (AVY) at 5.91 carries an above-peer premium to book — AVY is pricier on assets.

AVY

Materials industry group

5.91

Max: 6.59
AVY: 5.91
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Avery Dennison (AVY) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	AVY	SW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.21	48.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.51	0.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	5.91	1.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	6.90%	4.26%