Smurfit Westrock (SW) Benefiting From Value Focus and Operational Accountability

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is one of the 8 best paper and plastic packaging stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

On January 8, Ioannis Masvoulas of Morgan Stanley maintained an Overweight rating on Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW), with a price target of $53. His estimates imply upside of over 20% for investors.

Masvoulas attributed his stance to the company’s strategic tilt towards value focus, away from a volume-driven approach, within North America. He also highlighted management’s efforts to enhance plant-level operational accountability and to cut down their unprofitable contracts.

Earlier, on January 6, Anthony Pettinari of Citi also assigned a Buy rating to Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW). The analyst lowered his price target on the stock from $49 to $48, resulting in a revised upside of almost 9%.

Pettinari’s price revision is part of Citi’s broader adjustments to the packaging segment, in line with its 2026 forecasts. The firm believes that the outlook for volume setup within the sector appears challenging for the coming year.

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is a producer and distributor of sustainable paper-based packaging products such as containerboards and corrugated containers. It delivers products across 40 countries, covering various segments such as consumer goods, e-commerce, retail, industrial, and food & beverages. The company was formed following the 2024 merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.