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Sonoco Products (SON)
NYSE:SON
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Sonoco Products (SON) AI Stock Analysis

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SON

Sonoco Products

(NYSE:SON)

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Neutral 66 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:
$50.00
â–²(16.90% Upside)
Sonoco Products demonstrates strong financial performance and promising earnings call highlights, but faces challenges with valuation concerns and mixed technical indicators. The company's ability to manage leverage and navigate macroeconomic pressures will be crucial for future success.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Significant revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective business strategies, enhancing long-term profitability.
Debt Reduction
Reducing leverage improves financial stability and flexibility, allowing for more strategic investments and growth opportunities.
Synergy Achievements
Achieving synergies enhances operational efficiency and cost savings, supporting sustainable competitive advantages.
Negative Factors
Higher Interest Expense
Rising interest expenses can erode profit margins and limit reinvestment capacity, impacting long-term financial health.
European Market Challenges
Challenges in Europe can hinder growth in a key market, affecting overall revenue and strategic positioning.
Stranded Costs
Stranded costs from divestitures can reduce profitability and complicate financial management, affecting long-term efficiency.

Sonoco Products (SON) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Sonoco Products Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells industrial and consumer packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging. The Consumer Packaging segment round and shaped rigid paper containers; metal and peelable membrane ends and closures; thermoformed plastic trays and containers; printed flexible packaging; and global brand artwork management. The Industrial Paper Packaging segment provides fiber-based tubes, cones, and cores; fiber-based construction tubes; fiber-based protective packaging and components; wooden, metal, and composite wire and cable, as well as reels and spools; and recycled paperboard, corrugating medium, recovered paper, and material recycling services. Sonoco Products Company offers thermoformed rigid plastic trays and devices; custom-engineered molded foam protective packaging and components; temperature-assured packaging; injection molded and extruded containers, spools, and parts; retail security packaging, including printed backer cards, thermoformed blisters, and heat-sealing equipment; and paper amenities. The company sells its products in various markets, which include paper, textile, film, food, chemical, packaging, construction, and wire and cable. Sonoco Products Company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina.
How the Company Makes MoneySonoco generates revenue through multiple key streams, primarily by manufacturing and selling a diverse range of packaging products and services. The company's revenue model includes sales from consumer packaging, which encompasses flexible and rigid packaging solutions, and industrial products, such as paperboard tubes and cores. Additionally, Sonoco earns revenue from its protective solutions segment, which provides packaging that safeguards products during shipping and handling. Significant partnerships with notable companies in various industries help secure long-term contracts and consistent revenue. The company's focus on innovation and sustainability also attracts customers seeking eco-friendly packaging solutions, further enhancing its profitability.

Sonoco Products Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 23, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 22, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
Sonoco demonstrated strong financial performance with significant growth in net sales and adjusted EBITDA, driven by successful consumer packaging and industrial segments. However, macroeconomic challenges, particularly in Europe, and higher interest expenses tempered earnings growth. The company remains focused on synergy realization and debt reduction, with promising growth initiatives set for future gains.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Financial Performance
Net sales grew 49% and adjusted EBITDA was up 25% with a 100 basis points expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin to 17.2%.
Consumer Packaging Segment Success
Achieved 115% growth in adjusted EBITDA due to a 10% volume/mix gain in the metal U.S. business and the Eviosys acquisition.
Industrial Segment Margin Improvement
Industrial segment grew adjusted EBITDA by 16%, with EBITDA margins expanding to 19%, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of margin improvement.
Successful Divestiture and Debt Reduction
Divested Thermoformed and Flexible Packaging, reducing net leverage ratio to below 3.8x.
Synergy Achievements
Projected $40 to $50 million in synergy savings by the end of 2025 for SMP EMEA, with a line of sight to greater than $100 million in cost savings through 2026.
New Growth Initiatives
Secured a multiyear contract with a pet food customer in Eastern Europe for up to 400 million incremental units annually.
Negative Updates
Macroeconomic Pressures
Impacted by global macroeconomic pressures which affected consumer and industrial demand.
European Market Challenges
Delay in the European packing season and difficult macroeconomic conditions in Europe affected performance.
Higher Interest Expense
Total adjusted earnings grew only 7% due to higher-than-expected interest expense.
Impact of Sardine Availability
Decline in sardine availability in Africa further reduced volumes for SMP EMEA.
Stranded Costs
Encountered stranded corporate costs due to divestitures, impacting the financials.
Company Guidance
In the Sonoco Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company reported a robust performance with a 49% increase in net sales and a 25% rise in adjusted EBITDA, leading to a 100 basis points expansion in adjusted EBITDA margin to 17.2%. The Consumer Packaging segment saw a remarkable 115% growth in adjusted EBITDA, driven by 10% volume/mix gains in the U.S. metal business and the recent acquisition of Eviosys, now rebranded as Sonoco Metal Packaging EMEA. The Industrial segment also posted a 16% increase in adjusted EBITDA, with margins expanding for the seventh consecutive quarter to 19% due to favorable pricing and productivity enhancements. Despite these gains, total adjusted earnings grew by only 7%, impacted by higher-than-expected interest expenses. Looking ahead, Sonoco maintains its full-year guidance, anticipating net sales between $7.75 billion and $8 billion, and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion, while targeting the lower end of its adjusted EPS range of $6 to $6.20 due to interest expense pressures.

Sonoco Products Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Sonoco Products shows strong revenue and profit growth with improved leverage and robust cash flow generation. However, historical volatility in cash flow and revenue growth, along with a recent revenue decline, are concerns.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Sonoco Products has demonstrated strong revenue growth in the TTM period with a 5.34% increase. The gross profit margin is stable at 21.26%, and the net profit margin has improved significantly to 9.81% from previous periods. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy, indicating efficient operations. However, the company experienced a revenue decline in 2023, which could be a concern if it continues.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly in the TTM period to 0.22, indicating reduced leverage compared to previous years. Return on equity is strong at 21.28%, reflecting efficient use of equity. However, the equity ratio is relatively low, suggesting a higher reliance on debt financing historically, which poses a potential risk if not managed carefully.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Sonoco Products has shown impressive free cash flow growth of 137.42% in the TTM period, indicating strong cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is at 26.44%, showing good cash conversion. However, the company had a negative free cash flow growth in 2024, which could indicate volatility in cash flow management.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.66B5.31B5.44B5.86B5.59B5.24B
Gross Profit1.20B1.14B1.20B1.23B1.06B1.05B
EBITDA718.37M610.97M965.41M869.63M148.19M591.93M
Net Income555.81M163.95M474.96M466.44M-85.48M207.46M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets11.97B12.51B7.19B7.05B5.07B5.28B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments329.80M431.01M138.90M227.44M170.98M564.85M
Total Debt5.69B7.30B3.23B3.47B1.84B1.96B
Total Liabilities8.72B10.22B4.76B5.02B3.22B3.37B
Stockholders Equity3.24B2.27B2.42B2.07B1.84B1.90B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow143.77M440.61M519.84M189.90M55.82M521.96M
Operating Cash Flow543.70M833.85M882.92M509.05M298.67M705.62M
Investing Cash Flow-2.36B-4.11B-619.34M-1.75B-173.49M-127.01M
Financing Cash Flow2.07B3.67B-351.99M1.33B-513.54M-162.87M

Sonoco Products Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price42.77
Price Trends
50DMA
46.08
Negative
100DMA
45.41
Negative
200DMA
45.53
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.57
Positive
RSI
28.42
Positive
STOCH
6.68
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SON, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 42.77 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 46.02, below the 50-day MA of 46.08, and below the 200-day MA of 45.53, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.57 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 28.42 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 6.68 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SON.

Sonoco Products Risk Analysis

Sonoco Products disclosed 2 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Sonoco Products reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Sonoco Products Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Outperform
$4.90B15.7914.48%3.95%-0.49%-13.92%
67
Neutral
$5.75B10.9816.59%2.22%-5.05%-24.52%
66
Neutral
$4.33B30.973.98%4.78%0.90%-118.86%
65
Neutral
$5.06B16.8730.65%2.32%-2.00%-18.50%
61
Neutral
$4.55B15.0913.59%1.86%5.49%-1.01%
58
Neutral
$2.35B-138.73-2.15%10.15%8.39%72.18%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SON
Sonoco Products
42.77
-9.17
-17.65%
GPK
Graphic Packaging
19.30
-9.91
-33.93%
SEE
Sealed Air
35.10
-0.54
-1.52%
SLGN
Silgan Holdings
42.75
-8.45
-16.50%
REYN
Reynolds Consumer Products
23.83
-5.85
-19.71%
AMBP
Ardagh Metal Packaging
3.95
0.58
17.21%

Sonoco Products Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Sonoco Products Sells ThermoSafe Unit for $725 Million
Positive
Sep 8, 2025

On September 7, 2025, Sonoco Products Company announced the sale of its ThermoSafe business unit to Arsenal Capital Partners for up to $725 million. This transaction is part of Sonoco’s strategy to streamline its operations into two core global business segments, with the proceeds expected to reduce existing debt and support the company’s portfolio simplification and organizational streamlining efforts.

The most recent analyst rating on (SON) stock is a Hold with a $48.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Sonoco Products stock, see the SON Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 23, 2025