PKX vs. SW: POSCO vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do POSCO (PKX) 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

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

Smurfit Westrock (SW) trades as ordinary local shares, while POSCO (PKX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Profile Item	PKX	SW
Name	POSCO Holdings Inc. American Depositary Receipt	Smurfit WestRock Plc
Country/Region	South Korea	Ireland
GICS Sector	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry Group	Materials	Materials
GICS Industry	Metals & Mining	Containers & Packaging
GICS Sub-Industry	Steel	Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization	14.79 billion USD	23.13 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	October 14, 1994	June 17, 2008
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PKX

GSPC

POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
Total Return (1Y)	-4.84%	29.05%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-15.65%	14.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-1.81%	-0.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PKX

GSPC

POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	46.00%	42.69%
Beta (5Y)	1.71	0.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-68.71%	-53.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)	216.95K	4.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PKX 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 POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.20	0.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.30	0.94

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 2.21% 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

2.21%

Max: 52.88%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 8.76%
PKX: 2.21%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 1.89% 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.89%

Max: 38.66%
Q3: 15.98%
Median: 5.28%
PKX: 1.89%
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%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 4.26% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

PKX

Materials industry group

4.26%

Max: 66.70%
Q3: 28.92%
Median: 12.56%
PKX: 4.26%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
ROE (TTM)	2.21%	2.57%
ROA (TTM)	1.31%	2.50%
Net Margin (TTM)	1.89%	1.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)	4.26%	6.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)	7.87%	17.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while POSCO (PKX) at -6.09% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Both POSCO (PKX) at -29.00% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-6.09%	47.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-6.72%	32.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-29.00%	62.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-39.42%	-30.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 1.98 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.98

Max: 5.96
Q3: 3.30
Median: 2.24
PKX: 1.98
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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both POSCO (PKX) at 0.50 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.50

Max: 1.98
Q3: 0.89
PKX: 0.50
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

POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.98	1.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.50	0.78
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.81	2.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; POSCO (PKX) at 18,518.52% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

PKX

Materials industry group

18,518.52%

PKX: 18,518.52%
Max: 4.52%
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%

POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) reports 51.60%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PKX

Materials industry group

51.60%

Max: 83.62%
PKX: 51.60%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	18,518.52%	4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	51.60%	198.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

POSCO (PKX) at 15.57 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.

PKX

Materials industry group

15.57

Max: 59.00
Q3: 32.93
Median: 18.82
PKX: 15.57
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

POSCO (PKX) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 prices around its industry’s middle — PKX costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PKX

Materials industry group

0.00

Max: 9.62
Q3: 4.34
Median: 1.87
Q1: 0.73
PKX: 0.00
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

POSCO (PKX) 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 POSCO (PKX) at 1.36 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

PKX

Materials industry group

1.36

Max: 6.59
Q3: 3.55
Median: 2.08
PKX: 1.36
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for POSCO (PKX) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Metric	PKX	SW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	15.57	48.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.00	0.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	1.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-23,410.34%	4.26%