Silgan (SLGN) vs Smurfit WestRock (SW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Smurfit WestRock (SW) has outperformed Silgan (SLGN) over the past year, losing 4.3% versus a loss of 17.6%. Over five years, SLGN leads with a -11.8% price change compared with -24.5% for SW. Smurfit WestRock is the larger company by market cap ($21.52 billion vs $3.76 billion), about 5.7 times the size.
On valuation, Silgan trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 11.9x for Smurfit WestRock). Smurfit WestRock offers the higher dividend yield (4.31% vs 2.31%). Silgan converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 4.4% versus 2.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | SLGN | SW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.55 | $41.04 |
| Market cap | $3.76B | $21.52B |
| 1-day change | -0.70% | -1.00% |
| YTD return | -11.32% | +7.19% |
| 1-year return | -17.63% | -4.27% |
| 5-year return | -11.84% | -24.53% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.94 | 43.19 |
| Forward P/E | 8.69 | 11.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.55 | $0.95 |
| Dividend yield | 2.31% | 4.31% |
| Annual dividend | $0.82 | $1.77 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.48B | $31.18B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.73% | +47.70% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $288.40M | $699.00M |
| Gross margin | 17.73% | 19.38% |
| Operating margin | — | 5.51% |
| Net margin | 4.45% | 2.24% |
| 52-week high | $49.55 | $52.65 |
| 52-week low | $33.70 | $32.73 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.25% | -22.06% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +51.48% | +38.22% |
| Average volume | 1.32M | 4.63M |
| Shares outstanding | 105.68M | 524.52M |
| Employees | 17,320 | 96,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Containers/Packaging | Containers/Packaging |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Smurfit WestRock is about 5.7 times larger than Silgan by market value ($21.52B vs $3.76B).
- SW has outperformed SLGN by 13.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Smurfit WestRock trades at a higher earnings multiple (43.2x vs 13.9x trailing P/E).
- Smurfit WestRock offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.31% vs 2.31%).
- Smurfit WestRock grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+47.70% vs +10.73%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Silgan in Industrials and Smurfit WestRock in Consumer Discretionary.
About Silgan
SLGN stock →Silgan Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells rigid packaging solutions for consumer goods products in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Dispensing and Specialty Closures, Metal Containers, and Custom Containers.
Industrials · Containers/Packaging · 17,320 employees
About Smurfit WestRock
SW stock →Smurfit Westrock Plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and sells containerboard, corrugated containers, and other paper-based packaging products in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and internationally. The company produces containerboard and paperboard; packaging of corrugated containers; consumer packaging; and offers solid board, kraft paper, and graphic board, as well as other packaging products, such as solidboard packaging, paper sacks and bag-in-box.
Consumer Discretionary · Containers/Packaging · 96,000 employees
SLGN vs SW FAQ
Which is bigger, Silgan or Smurfit WestRock?
Smurfit WestRock (SW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $21.52B compared with $3.76B for Silgan (SLGN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SLGN or SW?
SW returned -4.27% over the past 12 months, compared with -17.63% for SLGN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SLGN or SW?
SLGN has the lower trailing P/E at 13.9, versus 43.2 for SW. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Silgan or Smurfit WestRock?
Smurfit WestRock has the higher yield at 4.31%, compared with 2.31% for Silgan.
Are Silgan and Smurfit WestRock in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Containers/Packaging industry within the Industrials sector.