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Sonoco Products Co (SON) Fundamental Analysis & AI Grade 2026

SON NYSE Paperboard Containers & Boxes SC CIK: 0000091767
Update Pending • Analysis: Apr 29, 2026 • SEC Data: 2026-03-29
Combined AI Grade
D
88% Confidence
N/A
D
88% Conf
Pending
Analysis scheduled

📊 SON Key Takeaways

Revenue: $1.7B
Net Margin: 4.0%
Free Cash Flow: $-430.0M
Current Ratio: 0.96x
Debt/Equity: 0.98x
EPS: $0.68
AI Grade: D with 88% confidence
Sonoco Products Co (SON) receives a D fundamental grade with 88% confidence from our AI analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $1.7B, net profit margin of 4.0%, and return on equity (ROE) of 1.9%, Sonoco Products Co demonstrates mixed fundamentals in the Materials sector. Below is our complete SON stock analysis for 2026.

Is Sonoco Products Co (SON) a Good Investment?

Claude

Sonoco exhibits severe financial distress with negative free cash flow of $430M, indicating the company is destroying value despite positive net income. Critical liquidity crisis emerges with current ratio of 0.96 and interest coverage of only 1.0x, while carrying $3.5B in debt with negligible returns (ROE 1.9%, ROA 0.6%) and zero revenue growth.

Sonoco Products Co Key Strengths (SON)

Claude
  • + Stable industry position in essential paperboard packaging segment
  • + Positive gross margin of 20.6% demonstrates operational viability
  • + Operating income of $127.1M shows core business remains profitable

SON Stock Risks: Sonoco Products Co Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Severe negative free cash flow of $430M with negative operating cash flow despite positive net income
  • ! Acute liquidity crisis: current ratio 0.96, quick ratio 0.57, with $3.5B debt against $3.6B equity
  • ! Interest coverage ratio of 1.0x provides no buffer; one downturn could trigger covenant violations
  • ! Zero revenue growth and stagnant profitability indicate structural market challenges
  • ! Extreme returns on capital (ROE 1.9%, ROA 0.6%) suggest value destruction

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Operating cash flow stabilization and path to positive free cash flow
  • * Interest coverage ratio maintenance and debt covenant compliance status
  • * Current and quick ratio trends indicating liquidity runway
  • * Revenue growth initiation and operating margin expansion

Sonoco Products Co (SON) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$1.7B
Net Income
$67.6M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.68
Free Cash Flow
$-430.0M
Total Assets
$11.1B
Cash Position
$224.5M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.

SON Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin 20.6%
Operating Margin 7.6%
Net Margin 4.0%
ROE 1.9%
ROA 0.6%
FCF Margin -25.6%

SON vs Materials Sector: How Sonoco Products Co Compares

How Sonoco Products Co compares to Materials sector averages

Net Margin
SON 4.0%
vs
Sector Avg 10.0%
SON Sector
ROE
SON 1.9%
vs
Sector Avg 14.0%
SON Sector
Current Ratio
SON 1.0x
vs
Sector Avg 1.6x
SON Sector
Debt/Equity
SON 1.0x
vs
Sector Avg 0.6x
SON Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is Sonoco Products Co Stock Overvalued? SON Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, Sonoco Products Co shows some fundamental concerns relative to the Materials sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
1.9%
Sector avg: 14%
Net Profit Margin
4.0%
Sector avg: 10%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.98x
Sector avg: 0.6x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

Sonoco Products Co Balance Sheet: SON Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
0.96x
Quick Ratio
0.57x
Debt/Equity
0.98x
Debt/Assets
67.6%
Interest Coverage
1.04x
Long-term Debt
$3.5B

SON Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

SON 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $5.6B, Net Income $291.8M, EPS $2.88. Year 2022: Revenue $7.3B, Net Income $207.5M, EPS $2.05. Year 2023: Revenue $7.3B, Net Income -$85.5M, EPS $-0.86. Year 2024: Revenue $5.4B, Net Income $466.4M, EPS $4.72. Year 2025: Revenue $7.5B, Net Income $475.0M, EPS $4.80.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Sonoco Products Co's revenue has grown significantly by 34% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $4.80 reflects profitable operations.

SON Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
-25.6%
Free cash flow / Revenue

SON Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Sonoco Products Co including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q1 2026 $1.7B $54.4M $0.55
Q3 2025 $1.4B $50.9M $0.51
Q2 2025 $1.3B $90.8M $0.92
Q1 2025 $1.3B $54.4M $0.55
Q3 2024 $1.7B $50.9M $0.51
Q2 2024 $1.6B $90.8M $0.92
Q1 2024 $1.6B $65.2M $0.66
Q3 2023 $1.7B $122.2M $1.24

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

Sonoco Products Co Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
-$367.9M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$7.0M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$62.1M
Investment in assets
Dividends Paid
$52.4M
Returned to shareholders

SON SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Sonoco Products Co (CIK: 0000091767)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
May 11, 2026 8-K son-20260505.htm View →
Apr 29, 2026 4 xslF345X06/doc4.xml View →
Apr 28, 2026 10-Q son-20260329.htm View →
Apr 24, 2026 4 xslF345X06/doc4.xml View →
Apr 21, 2026 8-K son-20260421.htm View →

Frequently Asked Questions about SON

What is the AI rating for SON?

Sonoco Products Co (SON) has an AI grade of D with 88% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are SON's key strengths?

Claude: Stable industry position in essential paperboard packaging segment. Positive gross margin of 20.6% demonstrates operational viability.

What are the risks of investing in SON?

Claude: Severe negative free cash flow of $430M with negative operating cash flow despite positive net income. Acute liquidity crisis: current ratio 0.96, quick ratio 0.57, with $3.5B debt against $3.6B equity.

What is SON's revenue and growth?

Sonoco Products Co reported revenue of $1.7B.

Does SON pay dividends?

Sonoco Products Co pays dividends, with $52.4M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.

Where can I find SON SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Sonoco Products Co (CIK: 0000091767) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is SON's EPS?

Sonoco Products Co has a diluted EPS of $0.68.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined grade reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

What is SON's fundamental grade?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in May 2026, Sonoco Products Co has a D grade with 88% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above for full context. This is not investment advice.

Is SON stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for SON: ROE of 1.9% (sector avg: 14%), net margin of 4.0% (sector avg: 10%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.

What is SON's AI grade for 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Sonoco Products Co a combined D grade for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is SON's free cash flow?

Sonoco Products Co's operating cash flow is $-367.9M, with capital expenditures of $62.1M. FCF margin is -25.6%.

How does SON compare to other Materials stocks?

Vs Materials sector averages: Net margin 4.0% (avg: 10%), ROE 1.9% (avg: 14%), current ratio 0.96 (avg: 1.6).

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Apr 29, 2026 | Data as of: 2026-03-29 | Powered by Claude AI