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STLD vs. SW: Steel Dynamics vs. Smurfit Westrock Stock Comparison

How do Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
Profile ItemSTLDSW
NameSteel Dynamics, Inc.Smurfit WestRock Plc
Country/RegionUnited StatesIreland
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryMetals & MiningContainers & Packaging
GICS Sub-IndustrySteelPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials
Market Capitalization31.70 billion USD23.13 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateNovember 22, 1996June 17, 2008
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

STLD
SW
GSPC
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Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
Total Return (1Y)52.02%29.05%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)29.83%14.60%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)30.20%-0.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

STLD
SW
GSPC
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Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)36.62%42.69%
Beta (5Y)1.460.89
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.20%-53.49%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.06M4.66M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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STLD 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.300.58
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.920.94

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 20.81% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 2.57% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for STLD.

STLD

Materials industry group

20.81%

Max
52.88%
STLD
20.81%
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%
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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 8.82% 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.

STLD

Materials industry group

8.82%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
STLD
8.82%
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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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

STLD

Materials industry group

15.46%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
STLD
15.46%
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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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
ROE (TTM)20.81%2.57%
ROA (TTM)9.45%2.50%
Net Margin (TTM)8.82%1.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.46%6.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.90%17.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.

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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% 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.

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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.63%47.70%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.53%32.15%
EPS Growth (YoY)-18.80%62.20%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-27.45%-30.01%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

STLD

Materials industry group

3.15

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
STLD
3.15
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
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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

STLD

Materials industry group

0.45

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
STLD
0.45
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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Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.151.48
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.450.78
Net Debt / EBITDA1.092.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SW the richer one.

STLD

Materials industry group

0.94%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
STLD
0.94%
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%
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Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 15.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.

STLD

Materials industry group

15.44%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
STLD
15.44%
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%
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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.94%4.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.44%198.63%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 16.46 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.

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
STLD
16.46
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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Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

STLD

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
STLD
1.43
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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Steel Dynamics (STLD) 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 Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 and Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

STLD

Materials industry group

3.23

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
STLD
3.23
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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Steel Dynamics (STLD) vs. Smurfit Westrock (SW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Smurfit Westrock (SW)
MetricSTLDSW
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.4648.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.430.73
P/B Ratio (MRQ)3.231.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.36%4.26%