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Smurfit Westrock plc: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 net income fell; Adjusted EBITDA flat: Q4 net income was $98 million, a 1.3% margin, against $146 million a year earlier. Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $1,172 million, a 15.5% margin, against $1,166 million. Source
  • North America fell; downtime cited: Q4 North America Adjusted EBITDA was $651 million at a 14.7% margin, against $710 million at 15.4%. Full-year figure was $2,998 million against $1,610 million. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin slipped: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.5%, the same as the prior-year quarter. Full-year margin was 15.8% against 16.0%. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow higher: Q4 Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $679 million against $257 million; full-year $1,501 million against $429 million. Management defines it as operating cash flow adjusted for capital expenditures and certain costs. Source
  • Loss-making units cut, capacity closed: Management said the company reduced loss-making businesses and closed about 600,000 tons of high-cost or inefficient capacity in 2025 as it focused on portfolio optimization. Source
  • Headcount cut by over 3,000: Management said headcount fell by over 3,000 in 2025 while investment in customers, the asset base and operating efficiency continued. Source

“I am pleased to report a strong fourth quarter performance for Smurfit Westrock set against difficult market conditions.”

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefirst quarter 2026$1.1 billion to $1.2 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$5.0 billion to $5.3 billionNew
Quarterly dividend Sourcequarter payable March 18, 2026$0.4523 per ordinary shareRaised from $0.4308

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range of $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion. The prior release gave no first-quarter range. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range of $5.0 billion to $5.3 billion, following the prior full-year 2025 range of $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion. Source
  • New: Earnings call added an update on the Medium-Term Plan, capital allocation priorities and value drivers. The prior release did not include this update. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Q4 net income fell; Adjusted EBITDA flat: Q4 net income was $98 million, a 1.3% margin, against $146 million a year earlier. Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $1,172 million, a 15.5% margin, against $1,166 million. Source
  • Full-year sales and earnings rose: Full-year net sales were $31,179 million against $21,109 million, net income $699 million against $319 million, and Adjusted EBITDA $4,939 million against $3,386 million. The 2024 comparative includes legacy Smurfit Kappa for part of the year. Source
  • Adjusted Basic EPS declined year on year: Q4 Adjusted Basic EPS was $0.34 against $0.47; full-year $2.05 against $2.34. Q4 basic EPS was $0.19 against $0.28, and diluted EPS $0.18 against $0.28. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America fell; downtime cited: Q4 North America Adjusted EBITDA was $651 million at a 14.7% margin, against $710 million at 15.4%. Full-year figure was $2,998 million against $1,610 million. Source
  • Europe, MEA and APAC improved: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $438 million at a 16.2% margin, against $371 million at 14.7%. Full-year $1,618 million against $1,529 million. Management described the performance as outstanding. Source
  • Latin America margin reached 24.5%: LATAM Q4 Adjusted EBITDA was $131 million at a 24.5% margin, against $121 million at 23.1%. Full-year $485 million against $378 million. Source

“we see a generally better industry operating environment, which positions us well for continued performance in 2026.”

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO

Costs and margins

  • Cost of goods sold rose: Q4 cost of goods sold was $6,198 million against $6,097 million, and gross profit $1,382 million against $1,442 million. Full-year gross profit was $6,043 million against $4,195 million. Source
  • Overhead expense fell in quarter: Q4 selling, general and administrative expenses were $920 million against $962 million. Full-year $3,819 million against $2,737 million. Source
  • Impairment and restructuring costs rose: Q4 impairment and restructuring costs were $25 million against $34 million. Full-year costs were $385 million against $56 million. Source
  • Combination transaction costs reported: Transaction and integration-related expenses tied to the Combination were $48 million in Q4 against $45 million, and $120 million for the full year against $395 million. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA margin slipped: Q4 Adjusted EBITDA margin was 15.5%, the same as the prior-year quarter. Full-year margin was 15.8% against 16.0%. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow higher: Q4 net cash provided by operating activities was $1,195 million against $781 million. Full-year $3,392 million against $1,483 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow higher: Q4 Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $679 million against $257 million; full-year $1,501 million against $429 million. Management defines it as operating cash flow adjusted for capital expenditures and certain costs. Source
  • Capital expenditure increased: Q4 capital expenditures were $583 million against $569 million. Full-year capital expenditures were $2,192 million against $1,466 million. Source
  • Interest expense increased: Q4 interest expense, net, was $203 million against $173 million. Full-year interest expense, net, was $729 million against $398 million. Source
  • Dividend cash paid rose: Cash dividends paid were $225 million in Q4 against $157 million, and $900 million for the full year against $650 million. Source

Strategy, customers and operating model

  • Medium-Term Plan targets faster growth: Management said it has targeted an accelerated path to growth through its Medium-Term Plan, which it planned to outline on the earnings call. Source
  • Loss-making units cut, capacity closed: Management said the company reduced loss-making businesses and closed about 600,000 tons of high-cost or inefficient capacity in 2025 as it focused on portfolio optimization. Source
  • Corrugated mix improving on value selling: Management said the corrugated businesses are moving to value-based selling, already achieving a better business mix and winning significant new business. Source
  • Performance culture and sharper focus: Management said 2025 brought progress in a performance-led culture, a leaner operating model and a sharper, customer-centric focus. Source

People and leadership

  • Headcount cut by over 3,000: Management said headcount fell by over 3,000 in 2025 while investment in customers, the asset base and operating efficiency continued. Source
  • Workforce about 97,000 people: The company stated approximately 97,000 employees across 40 countries. The prior release stated approximately 100,000 employees across 40 countries. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • Dividend payable March 18, 2026: The $0.4523 quarterly dividend is payable March 18, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 17, 2026. Source
  • Currency election deadline February 13: Registered-form shareholders can elect a currency for the dividend by February 13, 2026; depositary interest holders have until February 27, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Near-term capacity issues, mainly in the SBS consumer business, were cited. Source
  • External: Significant weather events in North America and Europe were cited in current trading. Source
  • Demand: Management described the quarter as set against difficult market conditions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the company exceeded its committed synergy target in 2025. Source
  • Met: Management said Q3 2025 Adjusted EBITDA was delivered in line with the guidance it had given.
  • Not stated: The prior release said additional fourth-quarter downtime would be taken to optimize the system; this release cites additional downtime taken to balance the system. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release gave this range. This release reports full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $4,939 million. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.