Smurfit Westrock

SW

Market cap $22.6B

Although the S&P 500 has returned 19.3% so far this year, dozens of stocks are showing significant declines for 2025.

Many are energy stocks that have been crushed as the price of oil has declined — but analysts expect a tremendous rebound for the group.

Analysts are making no secret about the S&P 500 stocks they think you should avoid next year. But they have their favorites, too.

S&P 500 high-yield 'safer' dividend stocks offer attractive upside, with twelve currently meeting the dogcatcher ideal of dividends exceeding share prices. Analyst targets forecast 21.14% to 44.05% net gains for top-ten S&P 500 dividend dogs by December 2026, with an average 28.35% gain and lower-than-market volatility. Stocks with negative free cash flow margins—fifteen of the top fifty—are flagged as unsafe for dividend sustainability despite high yields.

Smurfit Westrock (SW) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock?

Downtrodden names expected to come roaring back include Adobe, Block and Salesforce.

Smurfit Westrock stands out as a packaging leader, resilient to AI disruption due to its focus on physical goods distribution. SW's recent merger, cost synergies, and restructuring have improved efficiency, but high leverage and global economic weakness weigh on sentiment. Despite a Q3 earnings miss, the company trades at a discount to peers, maintains a well-covered 4.8% yield, and has received a Fitch ratings upgrade.

Smurfit Westrock presents a strong buying opportunity after a recent 11% share price decline. The company's operational synergies, global footprint, and ongoing restructuring support margin improvement and mitigate risks, despite a cautious Q4 outlook. Valuation remains attractive, with Smurfit Westrock trading at a discount to peers.

It published its third-quarter figures, and possibly wishes it hadn't. It whiffed by quite a margin on adjusted net income.

Smurfit Westrock posts mixed Q3 with earnings miss but stronger sales, while trimming its 2025 adjusted EBITDA outlook.