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JHX vs. SW: James Hardie Industries vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison

How do James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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

James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW) both fall under the Materials industry group, but JHX is classified in Construction Materials while SW is classified in Containers & Packaging.

Company profile comparison for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Profile ItemJHXSW
NameJames Hardie Industries plcSmurfit WestRock Plc
Country/RegionIrelandIreland
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryConstruction MaterialsContainers & Packaging
GICS Sub-IndustryConstruction MaterialsPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization16.20 billion USD23.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateOctober 22, 2001June 17, 2008
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

JHX
SW
GSPC
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
Total Return (1Y)72.20%29.05%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)0.38%14.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.23%-0.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

JHX
SW
GSPC
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)44.97%42.69%
Beta (5Y)1.740.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)-60.26%-53.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)9.36M4.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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JHX 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.510.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.590.94

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 5.46% 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

5.46%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
JHX
5.46%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 6.22% 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

6.22%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
JHX
6.22%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 19.56% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

JHX

Materials industry group

19.56%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
JHX
19.56%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
ROE (TTM)5.46%2.57%
ROA (TTM)4.42%2.50%
Net Margin (TTM)6.22%1.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)19.56%6.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)38.25%17.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 24.71% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.

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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 62.20% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while James Hardie Industries (JHX) at -80.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
Revenue Growth (YoY)24.71%47.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)8.59%32.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)-80.61%62.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-45.13%-30.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.12 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.12

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
JHX
2.12
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 0.63 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.63

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
JHX
0.63
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.121.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.630.78
Net Debt / EBITDA2.432.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Smurfit Westrock (SW) reports a yield of 4.02%, ranking against industry peers normally.

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
JHX
0.00%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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; James Hardie Industries (JHX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).

JHX

Materials industry group

0.00%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
JHX
0.00%
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%
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%198.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 48.02 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.

JHX

Materials industry group

48.02

Max
59.00
JHX
48.02
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.86 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.86

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
JHX
2.86
Median
1.87
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) 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 James Hardie Industries (JHX) at 2.41 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

JHX

Materials industry group

2.41

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
JHX
2.41
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
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James Hardie Industries (JHX) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for James Hardie Industries (JHX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricJHXSW
P/E Ratio (TTM)48.0248.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.860.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.411.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.98%4.26%