BALL vs. SW: Ball vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison
How do Ball (BALL) 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
Ball (BALL) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) both belong to the Containers & Packaging industry, though BALL is classified under Metal, Glass & Plastic Containers while SW falls under Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials.
| Profile Item | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ball 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 | Metal, Glass & Plastic Containers | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 17.16 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
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.59% | 29.05% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.78% | 14.60% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.75% | -0.16% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.54% | 42.69% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.94 | 0.89 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.87% | -53.49% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.12M | 4.66M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.25 | 0.58 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.02 | 0.94 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 9.49% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 2.57% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
BALL
Materials industry group
9.49%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- BALL
- 9.49%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 3.52% 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.
BALL
Materials industry group
3.52%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- BALL
- 3.52%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 9.67% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
BALL
Materials industry group
9.67%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- BALL
- 9.67%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.49% | 2.57% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.65% | 2.50% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.52% | 1.50% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 9.67% | 6.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.84% | 17.67% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Ball (BALL) at 11.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.
EPS Growth
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 62.20% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Ball (BALL) at -74.62% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 11.58% | 47.70% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.53% | 32.15% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -74.62% | 62.20% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.62% | -30.01% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Ball (BALL) at 1.04 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for BALL.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.04
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- BALL
- 1.04
- 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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ball (BALL) at 1.33 uses more debt funding than most peers.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.33
- Max
- 1.98
- BALL
- 1.33
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.04 | 1.48 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.33 | 0.78 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.45 | 2.96 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Ball (BALL) at 1.20% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SW the richer one.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.20%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- BALL
- 1.20%
- 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%
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 Ball (BALL) reports 40.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BALL
Materials industry group
40.20%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- BALL
- 40.20%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.20% | 4.02% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 40.20% | 198.63% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ball (BALL) at 33.13 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 48.99 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
BALL
Materials industry group
33.13
- Max
- 59.00
- BALL
- 33.13
- Q3
- 32.93
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Ball (BALL) at 1.13 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
BALL
Materials industry group
1.13
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- BALL
- 1.13
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Ball (BALL) at 3.02 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BALL
Materials industry group
3.02
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- BALL
- 3.02
- 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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BALL | SW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 33.13 | 48.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.13 | 0.73 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.02 | 1.28 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.54% | 4.26% |