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Smurfit Westrock plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income turned positive: Net income was $88 million against a $26 million loss a year earlier. Basic EPS was $0.17, against $(0.05). Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA lower year on year: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,140 million against $1,213 million, a 14.2% margin against 15.3%. Management said the quarter was affected by higher input costs. Source
  • North America margin lower: North America Adjusted EBITDA was $704 million against $752 million, a 14.8% margin against 15.8%. Net sales were $4,656 million against $4,652 million. Source
  • Freight drove higher input costs: Management said input costs rose significantly, particularly freight, and that the company managed to mitigate this through its actions. Source
  • Pricing initiatives across paper grades: Management said pricing initiatives were implemented to recover increased input costs across practically all paper grades. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower: Net cash provided by operating activities was $765 million against $829 million. The six-month figure was $969 million against $1,064 million. Source
  • Medium-Term Plan drives growth path: Management said it targets an accelerated path to growth through its Medium-Term Plan. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range lowered: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA is expected at $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion, down from the prior $5.0 billion to $5.3 billion. Source

“The quarter was impacted by significantly higher input costs, particularly freight, which we managed to mitigate through our actions.”

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026approximately $1.3 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$4.9 billion to $5.1 billionLowered from $5.0 billion to $5.3 billion
Quarterly dividend Sourcepayable September 10, 2026$0.4523 per ordinary shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range reduced to $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion from $5.0 billion to $5.3 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA of about $1.3 billion was given. The prior release gave a second-quarter range only. Source
  • Guidance kept: The quarterly dividend stays at $0.4523 per ordinary share. Source
  • New: Eight further converting facilities in Europe and North America are being closed. The prior release cited consultations at a UK mill and four converting facilities. Source

Results and profit

  • Net income turned positive: Net income was $88 million against a $26 million loss a year earlier. Basic EPS was $0.17, against $(0.05). Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA lower year on year: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,140 million against $1,213 million, a 14.2% margin against 15.3%. Management said the quarter was affected by higher input costs. Source
  • Net sales slightly higher: Net sales were $8,031 million against $7,940 million. Six-month net sales were $15,743 million against $15,596 million. Source
  • Six-month earnings lower: Six-month net income was $151 million against $356 million. Six-month Adjusted EBITDA was $2,216 million against $2,465 million. Source
  • Adjusted basic EPS lower: Adjusted basic EPS was $0.35 against $0.44. Six-month Adjusted basic EPS was $0.69 against $1.12. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America margin lower: North America Adjusted EBITDA was $704 million against $752 million, a 14.8% margin against 15.8%. Net sales were $4,656 million against $4,652 million. Source
  • EMEA and APAC EBITDA higher: Europe, MEA and APAC Adjusted EBITDA was $380 million against $372 million, with margin of 13.4% in both quarters. Net sales were $2,816 million against $2,773 million. Source
  • Latin America sales higher: LATAM net sales were $559 million against $515 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $124 million against $123 million, a 22.2% margin against 23.7%. Source

“Pricing initiatives have been implemented to recover increased input costs across practically all paper grades, and we are beginning to see the benefits”

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO

Customers and innovation

  • Innovation event drew 200 customers: The company hosted over 200 global customers at its flagship innovation packaging event in April. Source
  • Customer recognition across regions: Management said the company received numerous awards across all regions for its approach to innovation, sustainability and service. Source
  • Practices shared across regions: Management said best practice, operating excellence and innovation are transferred across markets, regions and continents. Source

Costs and charges

  • Freight drove higher input costs: Management said input costs rose significantly, particularly freight, and that the company managed to mitigate this through its actions. Source
  • EMEA input costs recovered with lag: In EMEA and APAC, management said certain input costs continue to rise and are being recovered with the customary lag. Source
  • Impairment and restructuring charges lower: Impairment and restructuring costs were $119 million against $280 million. Transaction and integration costs were $1 million against $21 million. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization higher: Depreciation, depletion and amortization was $678 million against $613 million. The six-month figure was $1,406 million against $1,216 million. Source

“Looking ahead, we are very encouraged by the current market back drop and the significant improvements we have made within our business.”

Tony Smurfit, President and CEO

Pricing and cost recovery

  • Pricing initiatives across paper grades: Management said pricing initiatives were implemented to recover increased input costs across practically all paper grades. Source
  • Converting businesses seeing benefits: Management said the company is beginning to see benefits from its commercial approach in its converting businesses. Source
  • Input cost recovery expected in H2: Management said it fully expects to recover input cost inflation through the second half of 2026 and beyond. Source

Demand and order book

  • Mill system running full: At the start of the third quarter, management said the mill system was generally running full. Source
  • New business gained in EMEA and APAC: Management said its actions on productivity, service and innovation are gaining significant new business in EMEA and APAC. Source

Cash, capital and debt

  • Operating cash flow lower: Net cash provided by operating activities was $765 million against $829 million. The six-month figure was $969 million against $1,064 million. Source
  • Quarterly capital spending lower: Capital expenditures were $465 million against $522 million. Six-month capital expenditures were $1,089 million against $999 million. Source
  • Current debt above year-end: Current portion of debt was $931 million at June 30, 2026, against $346 million at December 31, 2025. Cash was $677 million against $892 million. Source
  • Dividend payments higher year on year: Cash dividends paid were $237 million against $225 million in the quarter, and $474 million against $450 million for six months. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Medium-Term Plan drives growth path: Management said it targets an accelerated path to growth through its Medium-Term Plan. Source
  • Owner operator model rolling out: The North America team is progressively implementing the owner operator model and improving operating efficiency. Source
  • UK mill closed in quarter: The company continued optimizing its system with a UK mill closure. The prior release had entered consultations on a UK mill of about 200 thousand tonnes. Source
  • Latin America growth through investment: Management said it is well positioned to develop Latin America through internal investment and acquisition. Source

People and leadership

  • Headcount about 96,000 employees: The company reported approximately 96,000 employees across 40 countries, against approximately 97,000 in the prior release. Source
  • Cultural and operational shift: Tony Smurfit, President and CEO, said the company has driven a cultural and operational shift in the two years since formation. Source

Guidance and dividend

  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range lowered: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA is expected at $4.9 billion to $5.1 billion, down from the prior $5.0 billion to $5.3 billion. Source
  • Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA guided: Third-quarter Adjusted EBITDA is expected at about $1.3 billion, with input costs remaining elevated, especially freight. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.4523: The Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.4523 per ordinary share, unchanged from the prior release. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Dividend payment on September 10: The $0.4523 dividend is payable September 10, 2026 to holders of record at the close of business on August 14, 2026. Source
  • Second-half momentum expected: Management said it expects good momentum through the latter half of 2026 and beyond. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said input costs, especially freight, remain elevated and are included in the third-quarter expectation. Source
  • Financial: Some EMEA and APAC input costs are still rising. Management said these are recovered with the customary lag, so recovery trails cost increases. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release expected second-quarter Adjusted EBITDA between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion. This release reports $1,140 million.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected the containerboard increase to reach corrugated in the second half with the usual time-lag. This release says converting benefits are beginning.

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.