We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Lumber Stocks To Buy Right Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) stands against the other best lumber stocks.
The Global Lumber and Wood Market: An Overview
The global lumber and wood market plays a crucial role in various industries, including construction, furniture, and packaging. As one of the most versatile building materials, lumber is essential for residential and commercial construction, providing structural support and aesthetic appeal. It is also widely used in packaging solutions. The paper and pulp industry is another significant consumer of wood products. Lumber is processed into pulp to produce a wide range of paper products, including newspapers, packaging materials, and tissues. Companies involved in the lumber industry can range from sawmills that cut trees into lumber to manufacturers producing furniture and packaging materials, highlighting the diverse businesses that depend on this essential resource.
According to a report by The Business Research Company, the global wood products market was valued at $750.14 billion in 2023. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% during 2024-2028 to reach a value of $1.054 trillion by the end of the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region was the largest market for wood products globally in 2023.
READ ALSO: 8 Best Plastics Stocks To Invest In Now and 11 Best Small Cap Chemical Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.
Recent trends indicate that the global lumber market is experiencing both challenges and growth opportunities. In the North American market, housing starts can have a direct impact on lumber demand, which is essential for the construction of homes. Factors such as population growth, urban development, and mortgage interest rates can all play a crucial role in determining the level of housing starts.
On December 18, Bloomberg reported a surprising decline in new home construction in the US for November. Housing starts fell by 1.8%, reaching an annualized rate of 1.29 million, marking the slowest pace since July. This decrease was largely attributed to a significant drop in multifamily projects, which fell by over 23%, overshadowing a 6.4% increase in single-family home starts. The rise in single-family construction was primarily driven by a rebound in the South, particularly as areas affected by hurricanes in previous months began to recover.
Despite the increase in single-family homes, the overall outlook for the housing industry has become less optimistic recently. While the South showed a notable improvement, all other regions experienced declines in housing starts.
However, the notable uptick in single-family home construction is a positive trend. As the housing market recovers, the demand for lumber is poised to rise. Another significant trend is the increasing demand for sustainable building materials. Wood is expected to become a preferred choice due to its renewable nature and lower carbon footprint compared to other materials like steel or concrete. Additionally, technological advancements in lumber production contribute to market growth. Innovations in processing and manufacturing techniques are improving efficiency and reducing waste, which helps meet the rising demand without compromising quality.
It is important to remember that the lumber and wood industry serves a wide range of sectors, including paper, packaging, pulp, furniture, construction, and even energy production. This diversity allows the lumber market to remain resilient and adaptable to changes in demand across different industries. The global lumber market is vital to several key industries and is poised for growth despite current challenges.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best lumber stocks to buy right now, we used the Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the largest lumber and wood companies. We also reviewed financial media reports and consulted various online resources including ETFs to compile a list of the best lumber stocks. Next, we focused on the top 10 stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q3 2024 database of 900 elite hedge funds. The 10 best lumber stocks to buy right now are ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A large supply of packaged paper and packaging solutions, illustrating the diversity of the company’s offerings.
Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29
Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) is an Irish-American company specializing in corrugated and paper-based packaging. It operates in 40 countries with over 500 converting operations and 62 paper mills, providing a wide range of innovative packaging solutions ranging from corrugated and consumer packaging to Bag-in-Box packaging and point-of-sale displays. Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) is one of the best lumber stocks to invest in.
WestRock and Smurfit Kappa merged to become Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW). In its first financial report as Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW), the company announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. Net sales surged to approximately $7.67 billion, a significant increase from $2.91 billion in the same quarter of 2023. This growth was largely driven by the acquisition of WestRock, which contributed nearly $4.69 billion to sales. Additionally, there was a positive volume impact from increased corrugated product demand.
Despite this revenue growth, Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) reported a net loss of $150 million for the quarter, primarily due to transaction-related expenses and purchase accounting adjustments totaling around $500 million. The company’s Adjusted EBITDA stood at $1.26 billion, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.5%, indicating strong operational performance.
The integration of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock is progressing well, creating a solid foundation for future growth. The company aims to achieve synergies of at least $400 million through improved operational efficiency and plant-level autonomy. With a robust portfolio and strategic growth initiatives underway, Smurfit Westrock Plc (NYSE:SW) presents a compelling investment opportunity.
Overall, SW ranks 4th on our list of the best lumber stocks to buy right now. While we acknowledge the potential of SW as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than SW but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
