DS Smith Valuation Multiples

CRH is a global manufacturer of a range of building products used in construction projects, operating via a vertically integrated business model. The past decade has seen CRH transform into a leading building materials business, with increasing exposure to upstream building activities such as aggregates and cement. CRH’s geographic footprint is mostly across developed markets. North America is CRH’s largest market and accounts for 75% of EBITDA. The company is the largest producer of aggregates and asphalt in the US.

Holcim is a global manufacturer of a wide range of building materials. The merger between Lafarge and Holcim in 2015 created a leader in the building materials sector. Recent portfolio management diversified the group's exposure to heavy building materials. In 2025, Holcim spun out its North America business. Holcim, in its current form, generates 63% of its revenue from building materials such as cement and aggregates. Approximately 54% of group revenue is generated in Europe.

Martin Marietta Materials is one of the United States' largest producer of construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand, and gravel). In 2024, Martin Marietta sold 191 million tons of aggregates. Martin Marietta's most important markets include Texas, North Carolina, Colorado, California, and Georgia, accounting for most of its sales. The company also uses its aggregates in its asphalt and ready-mixed concrete businesses. Martin’s magnesia specialties business produces magnesia-based chemical products and dolomitic lime.

UltraTech Cement Ltd produces and sells cement and cement-related products. The company generates the vast majority of its revenue in India. The company's product portfolio includes Ordinary Portland cement, Portland blast-furnace slag cement, and Portland Pozzolana cement. Ordinary Portland cement is used for a wide range of applications including concrete products, masonry, and plastering. The firm's customers are in the building and construction industries. Geographically, it operates in India as well as in other countries, of which India derives key revenue.

Vulcan Materials is the United States' largest producer of construction aggregates (crushed stone, sand, and gravel). Its largest markets include Texas, California, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Alabama. In 2024, Vulcan sold 219.9 million tons of aggregates, 13.6 million tons of asphalt mix, and 3.6 million cubic yards of ready-mix. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the company had 16.5 billion tons of aggregate reserves.

Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest building materials companies, with operations in 60 countries. Its core activities include the production of cement and aggregates, which are used to construct houses, infrastructure, and commercial facilities. The sale of cement and aggregates accounts for the majority of group revenue and profits. Europe is the company’s largest market contributing nearly half of group sales. Heidelberg Materials is listed in Germany and has 55,000 employees.

Coca-Cola Femsa, a subsidiary of Femsa, is the largest franchise bottler of Coca-Cola in volume terms. The company purchases beverage concentrates and syrup from Coca-Cola, which it then processes and packages for distribution through modern trade, traditional trade, and the on-premises channel. Mexico and Brazil make up 80% of the total volume and sales, with the rest from other Central and South American countries, including Panama, Guatemala, Uruguay, and Argentina. Femsa and Coca-Cola hold 47% and 28% economic interests in Coca-Cola Femsa through nonpublicly traded A and D shares, respectively, while controlling 56% and 33% of the voting power.

Grasim Industries Ltd is a cement and viscose staple fibre (VSF) manufacturing firm based in India. The activities of the group fall under the operating segments of Cellulosic Fibres, Chemicals, Building materials, Financial Services, and Others. It derives key revenue from the Building materials segment which covers products like grey cement, paints, white cement, and allied products. Geographically, the company derives a majority of its revenue from the domestic market and the rest from other countries through exports.

Smurfit WestRock manufactures corrugated packaging and consumer packaging, such as folding cartons and paperboard. After the merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock in summer 2024, Smurfit WestRock became the largest producer of containerboard in the world, with substantial operations in North America, South America, and Europe.

Amrize is a building solutions company focused exclusively on the North American market. Amrize earns revenue from the sale of cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, asphalt, roofing systems, and other building solutions. The company is organized into two reportable segments: building materials and building envelope. The building materials business consists of Amrize’s cement, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and asphalt operations. The building envelope segment offers advanced roofing and wall systems, including single-ply membranes, insulation, shingles, sheathing, waterproofing, and protective coatings, along with adhesives, tapes, and sealants.

Packaging Corp. of America is the third-largest containerboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer in the United States. It produces over 5 million tons of containerboard annually. The company's share of the domestic containerboard market is roughly 10%. PCA differentiates itself from larger competitors by focusing on smaller customers and operating with a high degree of flexibility.

Amcor is a global producer of plastic packaging primarily for the fast-moving consumer goods industry. About 90% of earnings are exposed to the flexible packaging business. This is soft disposable plastic for a variety of food, drink, healthcare, and hygiene products. The remainder of earnings are from the Latin and North American rigids business, which is primarily beverage bottling for the soft drink industry. Operating in more than 35 countries, Amcor has market share in its established regions of North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. About half of group sales are derived from North America and the remainder is split equally between Western Europe and emerging markets. Australia and New Zealand sales make up less than 5% of group sales.

International Paper manufactures packaging products and cellulose fibers. It accounts for roughly one-third of the North American corrugated packaging market. The company also has a substantial presence in Europe following its acquisition of DS Smith. International Paper serves a variety of end markets, including industrial, consumer products, and manufacturing.

James Hardie is a manufacturer of fiber cement-based building products, selling primarily to the residential construction industry. North America is the primary geography, generating about 80% of group earnings. Here, it is the largest manufacturer of fiber cement, which is mainly used for exterior siding on houses. Following the Azek acquisition in 2025, it also produces wooden composite decking materials, siding trims, and accessories for outdoor areas including stair and deck railing. Businesses in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, make up the rest of earnings.

Ball is the world's largest metal can manufacturer with market share over 30% in its three main regions (North America, Europe, and South America). The company is focused on increasing capacity amid a wave of new developed-market demand, while also investing in faster-growing emerging-market economies. Ball spun-off its glass jar business in 1993 and is now owned by Newell. The company reports three segments-beverage packaging, North and Central America (48% of 2025 revenue), beverage packaging, EMEA (30%), beverage packaging, South America (16%)-and it generated $13 billion in revenue in 2025.

Cemex SAB de CV is a ready-mix concrete company that mainly engaged in activities that are oriented to the construction industry, mainly through the production, marketing, sale, and distribution of cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, urbanization solutions, and other construction materials and also provide related services and reliable construction-related services to customers and communities and maintain business relationships in more than 60 countries throughout the world. The company operates in different parts of the world, with operations in Mexico, the United States, the EMEA region and the SCA&C region.

Anhui Conch Cement mainly engages in the production and sale of cement, clinker, and concrete in China. The company was established in 1997 and headquartered in Anhui province. With annual cement production capacity of over 400 million metric tons in 2024, the firm is the second-largest cement manufacturer in China. Sales of self-produced products contribute to about 80% of its revenue, with the remainder mainly from the trading business and service income.

Avery Dennison Corp provides materials science and digital identification solutions, offering labeling and functional materials, RFID inlays and tags, software connecting physical and digital, and products that enhance packaging and customer experience. Serving industries including retail, apparel, e-commerce, logistics, food, pharmaceuticals, and automotive it operates through two reportable segments: Materials Group, which manufactures and sells pressure-sensitive label materials, graphics, reflective products, performance tapes, and other adhesive solutions, and earns the majority of revenue; and Solutions Group, which provides brand and price tickets, tags, labels with RFID inlays, and related services, supplies, and equipment.

Posco Future M is in the business of coal chemistry and carbon materials. Its key business includes refractory manufacture and sale, furnace construction and maintenance, lime business, environmental business, comprehensive chemicals, carbon materials, and secondary battery anode materials, among others. The group operates in two segments: Basic Materials Division, which includes Refractory Business, Lime Mars Business, and Energy Materials Division, which includes the manufacture and sale of cathode and cathode materials. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Energy Materials Division.

Crown Holdings is one of the world's largest producers of metal packaging. The company manufactures beverage cans, metal food cans, and closures as well as aerosol cans. With the purchase of Signode, the company also has a presence in a wide variety of protective transport packaging. Although it's headquartered in the United States, the vast majority of Crown's sales come from its operations in Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia.

CCL Industries Inc manufactures and sells packaging and packaging-related products. The company operates through various segments, which include The CCL segment, which generates the majority of revenue, and sells pressure-sensitive and extruded film materials used for labels on consumer packaging, healthcare, automotive, and consumer durable products. The Avery segment sells software, labels, tags, dividers, badges, and specialty card products under the Avery brand. The Checkpoint segment includes the manufacturing and selling of technology-driven, inventory management and labeling solutions. Innovia segment manufactures specialty films. Its geographical segments include Canada; USA and Puerto Rico; Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina; Europe; and Asia, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand.

Ambuja Cements Ltd manufactures and sells cement, concrete, and cement-related products to the building and construction industries. The company's portfolio of products includes Portland Pozolona cement and ordinary Portland cement. The vast majority of the firm's revenue is generated in India. Ambuja Cements has operations throughout India and uses a network of ports, bulk cement terminals, captive ships, and railroads to transport its products to both warehouses and directly to customers. The company also has a technical services team that partners with customers to teach concrete mixing and curing techniques.

BlueScope is an Australia-based steelmaker with five business units. The Australian steel products segment mainly specializes in branded coated and painted flat steel products, sold domestically. North Star is the group’s US minimill, specializing in the production of hot rolled coil for US construction and automotive sectors. Building products Asia operates across Southeast Asia, China, and India, and the US building and coated products North America is involved in metal coating and painting, and the supply to nonresidential construction projects using BlueScope’s materials. New Zealand steel and the Pacific Islands business produces flat and long steel products for New Zealand and building components for the Pacific Islands.

Shree Cement Ltd manufactures and sells cement and cement-related products to the building and construction industries. It derives revenue from cement, clinker, and power sales, of which cement products contribute majorly to the revenue. The cement products are offered under the brands Shree Jung Rodhak and Bangur. Geographically, the company's majority of the revenue is generated within India.

Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd operates in various business areas using its printing and information technologies. The company operates in the following segments: Life & Healthcare, Electronics, and Smart Communication. Its key revenue is derived from the Smart Communication segment, which includes the imaging communication business, focusing on photo printing, the Information Security business, providing business process outsourcing (BPO) and smart card services, and content & XR communication. The Life & Healthcare segment includes its mobility and industrial high-performance materials business, bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical packaging, and the packaging, living spaces, and beverages businesses. Electronics focuses on functional films, display components, and others.

Buzzi SpA manufactures, distribute and sell cement, ready-mix concrete and aggregates. The company has geographical segments: Italy; Central Europe; Eastern Europe; and United States of America. It derives maximum revenue from United States of America.

BUA Cement PLC is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cement to the general public. The company generates revenue from the sale of bagged cement and sale of bulk cement. Geographically the company generates the majority of its revenue in Nigeria.

Huaxin Building Materials Group Co Ltd is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cement, concrete, clinker, aggregate, and other building materials. The company is also engaged in environmental protection, equipment manufacturing, Project consulting, and high-tech building materials.

Rockwool AS manufactures and sells building materials, including insulation and roofing systems. The company organizes itself into two segments based on the product: Insulation and Systems. The Insulation segment, sells building, industrial, and technical insulation and external thermal insulation wall systems to the construction industry. The Systems business sells acoustic ceilings and wall systems, external cladding systems, horticultural substrate solutions, engineered fiber solutions, and noise and vibration control to the construction and automotive industries. The majority of revenue is from the Insulation Segment. The majority of sales come from Europe.

SIG Group AG is a systems and solutions provider for aseptic carton packaging solutions, comprising filling machines, sleeves, and closures as well as after-market services. Its geographical segments include Europe; India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA); Asia Pacific (APAC) and Americas. It generates maximum revenue from the Europe segment. The company offers packaging solutions for the beverages and food industry.

Valmet Oyj is a Finland-based company that supplies technologies, automation solutions, and other services to customers in the pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, and energy industries. The company operates in two segments; Biomaterial Solutions and Services, covering pulp, energy, circularity, packaging, paper, and tissue; and Process Performance Solutions, focusing on flow control and automation technologies. The company generates maximum revenue from the Biomaterial Solutions and Services segment.

TCC Group Holdings Co Ltd engages in the manufacturing and marketing of cement, cement-related products and ready-mixed concrete. The majority of revenue comes from Taiwan and the rest from Asia and Europe.

Eagle Materials Inc produces and sells construction products and building materials. Construction products include cement, slag, concrete, and aggregates and building materials include cement and gypsum wallboard, and are sold to the construction and building industries. The firm organizes itself into two sectors: Heavy Materials, which includes the Cement and Concrete and Aggregates segments, and Light Materials, which includes the Gypsum Wallboard and Recycled Paperboard segments.

Xinyi Glass Holdings Ltd is engaged in the production and sales of float glass products, automobile glass products, construction glass products, and a variety of related products in the PRC and Malaysia. Its product portfolio comprises clear glass, glass for windshields, heating glass, laminated glass, heat-reflective coated glass, and others. The company's operating segments are Float glass, Automobile glass, and Architectural glass. A majority of its revenue is generated from the Float glass segment, which offers clear glass, F-green glass, and European gray glass. Geographically, the company generates maximum revenue from Greater China, and the rest from other regions like Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Middle East, Central America, North and South America.

Mitsui Chemicals Inc manufactures and sells a variety of chemicals, plastics, and chemical-based products. The firm organizes itself into four segments. The Basic & Green Materials segment provides ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, catalysts, phenols, PTA, PET resins, polyurethane, and industrial chemicals. The ICT Solutions segment supplies semiconductors, electronic components, process and optical materials, and battery-related materials. The Life & Healthcare Solutions segment covers vision care, nonwovens, oral and personal care materials, and agricultural chemicals. The Mobility Solutions segment offers elastomers, functional compounds, polypropylene compounds, and automotive-related products, while Others include related businesses.

Indorama Ventures PCL is engaged in the manufacture and distribution of Polyethylene Terephthalate, Purified Terephthalic Acid, Paraxylene, recycling, Purified Isophthalic Acid, Naphthalene Dicarboxylate, PET preforms and packaging, Integrated EG, Integrated purified EO, PO/MTBE, Integrated Surfactants comprising EOA, LAB and others, Fibers including Polyester, Rayon, Nylon, Polypropylene, composites and worsted wool fibers products. The company operates in three reportable segments Combined PET, Integrated Oxides and Derivatives and Fibers. The maximum revenue is derived from the Combined PET segment.

Over its 100-year-plus history, Sonoco Products has steadily assembled a diverse portfolio of industrial and consumer packaging product offerings such as flexible and rigid plastics, reels and spools, pallets, and composite cans. The company serves a variety of consumer and industrial end markets throughout North America. Sonoco has raised its dividend each year for more than 40 years.

Reynolds Consumer Products Inc is a provider of household products. The firm is engaged in the production and sales of cooking products, waste and storage products, and tableware. It operates through four reportable segments namely, Reynolds Cooking and Baking, Hefty Waste and Storage, Hefty Tableware, and Presto Products. Reynolds Cooking and Baking segment produce branded and store brand aluminum foil, disposable aluminum pans, parchment paper, freezer paper, wax paper, butcher paper, plastic wrap, baking cups, oven bags and slow cooker liners.

Sanwa Holdings Corp is a Japan-based company engaged in producing and selling construction materials for buildings and commercial facilities. The company also provides maintenance and renovation services. Its products include condominium doors, window shutters, exterior products, garage doors, operators, and hinge doors for residential buildings; and heavy-duty shutters, steel doors, partitions, stainless steel products, overhead doors, automatic doors, truck/trailer doors, and industrial doors for non-residential buildings. The company operates in Japan, North America, and Europe.

Cementos Argos SA is a cement producing company. In terms of the concrete business it is Colombia's key producer and the producer in the United States. The company's corporate purpose is the exploitation of the cement industry, the production of concrete mixes and any other materials or items made of cement, lime or clay, the acquisition and exploitation of minerals or deposits of exploitable minerals in the cement industry and similar rights to explore and mine the aforementioned minerals, whether by concession, privilege, lease or other title.

Grupo Argos SA is a holding company with businesses spanning multiple industries including cement, energy, highway and airport construction, port operations, real estate, and coal. The Cement segment, which generates the majority of revenue, has a majority ownership stake in Cementos Argos, which manufactures and sells cement, concrete, and cement-related products in multiple countries throughout the Americas. The Energy segment has a majority ownership stake in a company named Celsia, which generates and sells gas, thermal energy, and hydroelectric energy throughout Central and South America.

Titan SA is engaged in building and infrastructure materials industry. The company offers construction materials, solutions, and the services needed for safe and sustainable homes, buildings, and infrastructure that enable people to enjoy life.

Toyo Seikan Group Holdings Ltd is a Japan-based packaging container manufacturer. The company operates through six segments. The Engineering, Filling, and Logistics segment handles packaging equipment, contract filling, and cargo transport. The Functional Materials segment covers aluminum substrates, optical films, pigments, frit, and gelcoats. The Packaging Container segment produces metal, plastic, paper, and glass containers. The Real Estate segment focuses on leasing office buildings and commercial facilities. The Steel Plate segment manufactures and sells steel plates and related products. The Others segment includes automotive press dies, rigid combiners, and non-life insurance agency services. It generates the majority of its revenue from the Packaging container business segment.

Corporacion Moctezuma SAB de CV is a Mexico-based company which is engaged in the production and sale of cement and ready-mix concrete. The product portfolio of the includes of compound Portland cements, white cement and mortar and others.

LafargeHolcim Maroc SA is a Morocco-based company. It is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of cement and hydraulic binders to the construction industry. Its product portfolio consists of cement, concretes, aggregates, plasters, and lime.

Greif Inc is a producer of industrial packaging products and services with manufacturing facilities located in many countries. It offers a comprehensive line of rigid industrial packaging products, such as steel, fiber, and plastic drums, rigid intermediate bulk containers, closure systems for industrial packaging products, transit protection products, water bottles and remanufactured and reconditioned industrial containers, and services, such as container life cycle management, blending, filling, logistics, warehousing, and other packaging services. The company operates in three reportable business segments including Global Industrial Packaging, Paper Packaging and Services, and Land Management. It operates in USA, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia and Other Americas.

Lafarge Africa PLC through its subsidiaries is engaged in manufacturing and marketing of cement, concrete, and aggregates products, including the provision of building solutions. Its products include Ashakacem, UniCem, Elephant cement, Lafarge Powermax, RoadCem, and Supaset cement among others. It has two segments Cement & Readymix products. The majority of the revenue is generated from the cement segment.

Silgan Holdings manufactures about half of the metal food containers in North America. Its major customers include Campbell Soup, Nestle, and Del Monte. Silgan's other business segments include plastic dispensers and containers for personal and healthcare products and a closures business that manufactures metal and plastic lids and caps.