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# Smurfit Westrock Stock Plunges 7%, Wiping Out $1.6 Billion, After Cut To 2026 Outlook
- URL: https://www.bullished.co/smurfit-westrock-stock-plunges-7-wiping-out-1-6-billion-after-cut-to-2026-outlook-2cbecd14/
- Published: 2026-10-28T16:51:55.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-28T16:51:55.000Z
- Description: The packaging maker cut its 2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook to near $4.7 billion as freight and energy costs outran its price increases.
- Author: Matteo Parrino
- Tags: Markets, SW, Industry: Materials

[Smurfit Westrock](https://www.bullished.co/tag/sw/), the paper-based packaging maker, saw its shares fall 7.22% to $39.47 in Wednesday trading as of 12:50 p.m. ET, [erasing $1.6 billion](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/smurfit-westrock-sinks-10-q3-130837139.html?ref=bullished.co) in market value, on the day it lowered its full-year earnings outlook. Third-quarter earnings came in below last year's as freight and energy inflation ran ahead of price increases.

## Outlook cut to near $4.7 billion

In an [SEC filing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0002005951/000110465926119345/tm2628367d1%5F8k.htm?ref=bullished.co), the company cut its 2026 adjusted EBITDA outlook (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) to near $4.7 billion.

Third-quarter adjusted earnings were $0.45 a share, against $0.58 a year earlier. [Revenue rose to $8,161 million](https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202610280630BIZWIRE%5FUSPRX%5F%5F%5F%5F20261028%5FBW933615-1&ref=bullished.co) from $8,003 million, the company reported.

On the earnings call, management said it expects to [absorb about $700 million](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/smurfit-westrock-sinks-10-q3-130837139.html?ref=bullished.co) of extra freight and energy costs this year. The full benefit of its price increases will arrive in 2027, it said.

## A box maker with 57 mills

Smurfit Westrock makes corrugated boxes from containerboard, plus folding cartons and other consumer packaging, and employs about 97,000 people. According to its 10-K for 2025, it runs 57 paper mills and 450 converting plants across 40 countries. North America made up 58.5% of 2025 net sales to external customers, and most products went to makers of fast-moving consumer goods.

Its market value stood at about $21 billion intraday after the drop.

## A stock that had held up

Shares were [up about 10%](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/smurfit-westrock-shares-slide-after-higher-costs-pressure-earnings-4ea5b129?ref=bullished.co) for the year at Tuesday's close, trailing the S&P 500's gain of about 13%. Wednesday's drop was on pace to be the biggest one-day fall since Oct. 29, 2025, when the shares fell 12.2%.

In its [latest quarterly filing](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2005951/000162828026051195/smur-20260630.htm?ref=bullished.co), for the period ended June 30, the company reported revenue of $8 billion, up 1.2% from a year earlier, net income of $89 million and an operating margin of 3.9%.

Management said October volumes are in line with last year and that it is watching the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections as it gauges November demand.

### Sources

- [Smurfit Westrock Sinks 10% on Q3 Miss as “Unprecedented Cost Inflation” Hits Margins](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/smurfit-westrock-sinks-10-q3-130837139.html?ref=bullished.co) — Yahoo Finance
- [Smurfit Westrock anticipates $700M hit in 2026 from cost inflation](https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/smurfit-westrock-anticipates-700m-hit-152400654.html?ref=bullished.co) — Yahoo Finance
- [SW Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates on Higher Costs, Weak Volumes](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/sw-q3-earnings-miss-estimates-141900324.html?.tsrc=rss&ref=bullished.co) — Yahoo Finance
- [Smurfit Westrock Shares Slide After Higher Costs Pressure Earnings](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/smurfit-westrock-shares-slide-after-higher-costs-pressure-earnings-4ea5b129?ref=bullished.co) — MarketWatch
- [Smurfit Westrock Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results – Company Announcement - FT.com](https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202610280630BIZWIRE%5FUSPRX%5F%5F%5F%5F20261028%5FBW933615-1&ref=bullished.co) — Financial Times
- [The company's filing (Smurfit Westrock)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0002005951/000110465926119345/tm2628367d1%5F8k.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC filing
- [Smurfit Westrock (SW) Lags Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates](https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/3016737/smurfit-westrock-sw-lags-q3-earnings-and-revenue-estimates?cid=CS-ZC-FT-fundamental%5Fanalysis|yseop%5Ftemplate%5F4-3016737&ref=bullished.co) — Zacks Investment Research
- [Smurfit Westrock — Form 10-Q for the quarter ended 2026-06-30 (quarterly results)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2005951/000162828026051195/smur-20260630.htm?ref=bullished.co) — SEC EDGAR

### More on Smurfit Westrock

- [Smurfit Westrock CEO Says Europe's 10-To-1 Gas Gap Versus U.S. Forces Closures Or More Price Hikes](https://www.bullished.co/smurfit-westrock-ceo-says-europes-10-to-1-gas-gap-versus-u-s-forces-closures-or-more-price-15c6107e/)
- [Smurfit Westrock Sees 2026 Adjusted EBITDA Of About $4.7 Billion, Citing $700 Million In Extra Freight And Energy Costs](https://www.bullished.co/smurfit-westrock-sees-2026-adjusted-ebitda-of-about-4-7-billion-citing-700-million-in-93380d0d/)

[All Smurfit Westrock (SW) coverage →](https://www.bullished.co/tag/sw/)