We expect investors to further benefit

Article Excerpt

In May 2016, cardboard maker WestRock spun off its Ingevity chemical business to create two pure-play firms. Shareholders received one Ingevity share for every six WestRock shares they held. WestRock recently merged with Irish packaging firm Smurfit Kappa. At the time of the merger, investors enjoyed a 34% gain. However, big mergers like this add risk, which tempers our enthusiasm for the merged company. Still, the outlook for Ingevity, which is up 75% since the spinoff, remains bright as the global economy continues to rebound from COVID-19. The company’s new cost-cutting plan should also improve its profitability. SMURFIT WESTROCK PLC $48 is a hold. The company (New York symbol SW; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 519.3 million; Market cap: $24.9 billion; Dividend yield: 3.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.smurfitwestrock.com) is a leading provider of packaging materials and systems. It operates 63 paper mills, 500 converting facilities and paper recycling plants in over 40 countries. On July 5, 2024, WestRock completed its merger with Dublin, Ireland-headquartered Smurfit Kappa…