SW vs. VMC: Smurfit Westrock vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison
How do Smurfit Westrock (SW) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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
Smurfit Westrock (SW) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but SW is classified in Containers & Packaging while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.
| Profile Item | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Smurfit WestRock Plc | Vulcan Materials Company |
| Country/Region | Ireland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry Group | Materials | Materials |
| GICS Industry | Containers & Packaging | Construction Materials |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Paper & Plastic Packaging Products & Materials | Construction Materials |
| Market Capitalization | 23.13 billion USD | 36.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 17, 2008 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 29.05% | 2.25% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 14.60% | 12.53% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.16% | 8.08% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 42.69% | 30.13% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.89 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -53.49% | -32.50% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.66M | 1.16M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.58 | -0.07 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.94 | -0.09 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 2.57% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 12.88% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
SW
Materials industry group
2.57%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- Median
- 8.76%
- SW
- 2.57%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
VMC
Materials industry group
12.88%
- Max
- 52.88%
- Q3
- 19.49%
- VMC
- 12.88%
- Median
- 8.76%
- Q1
- -3.41%
- Min
- -32.81%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.50% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 13.78% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
SW
Materials industry group
1.50%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- Median
- 5.28%
- SW
- 1.50%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
VMC
Materials industry group
13.78%
- Max
- 38.66%
- Q3
- 15.98%
- VMC
- 13.78%
- Median
- 5.28%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- -20.40%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 6.38% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
SW
Materials industry group
6.38%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- Median
- 12.56%
- SW
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
VMC
Materials industry group
23.95%
- Max
- 66.70%
- Q3
- 28.92%
- VMC
- 23.95%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 3.28%
- Min
- -14.07%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 2.57% | 12.88% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.50% | 5.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 1.50% | 13.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 6.38% | 23.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 17.67% | 27.48% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 47.70% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for SW.
EPS Growth
Both Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 62.20% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 47.70% | 7.06% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 32.15% | 2.77% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 62.20% | 18.39% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -30.01% | 23.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.48 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 1.43 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VMC.
SW
Materials industry group
1.48
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- SW
- 1.48
- Q1
- 1.45
- Min
- 0.16
VMC
Materials industry group
1.43
- Max
- 5.96
- Q3
- 3.30
- Median
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.45
- VMC
- 1.43
- Min
- 0.16
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.78 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.63 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
SW
Materials industry group
0.78
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- SW
- 0.78
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.98
- Q3
- 0.89
- VMC
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.47
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.48 | 1.43 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.78 | 0.63 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.96 | 2.27 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 4.02% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, SW the richer one.
SW
Materials industry group
4.02%
- Max
- 4.52%
- SW
- 4.02%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- Median
- 0.38%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VMC
Materials industry group
0.72%
- Max
- 4.52%
- Q3
- 1.85%
- VMC
- 0.72%
- 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) reports 24.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.
SW
Materials industry group
198.63%
- SW
- 198.63%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VMC
Materials industry group
24.26%
- Max
- 83.62%
- Q3
- 41.37%
- VMC
- 24.26%
- Median
- 9.54%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.02% | 0.72% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 198.63% | 24.26% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 48.99 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 33.46 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.
SW
Materials industry group
48.99
- Max
- 59.00
- SW
- 48.99
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
VMC
Materials industry group
33.46
- Max
- 59.00
- VMC
- 33.46
- Q3
- 32.93
- Median
- 18.82
- Q1
- 11.96
- Min
- 3.93
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 0.73 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 sits in the pricier quartile — VMC costs more per dollar of sales.
SW
Materials industry group
0.73
- Max
- 9.62
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- SW
- 0.73
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
VMC
Materials industry group
4.53
- Max
- 9.62
- VMC
- 4.53
- Q3
- 4.34
- Median
- 1.87
- Q1
- 0.73
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Smurfit Westrock (SW) at 1.28 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 carries an above-peer premium to book — VMC is pricier on assets.
SW
Materials industry group
1.28
- Max
- 6.59
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- SW
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
VMC
Materials industry group
4.31
- Max
- 6.59
- VMC
- 4.31
- Q3
- 3.55
- Median
- 2.08
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- -0.17
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SW | VMC |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 48.99 | 33.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.73 | 4.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.28 | 4.31 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.26% | 1.96% |