Smurfit growth tipped to continue

Analysts are anticipating Smurfit Kappa Group’s strong performance in the year to date to carry over into 2016, despite management not guiding beyond the end of this year.

The paper and packaging group yesterday reported a near 80% annualised jump in third-quarter pre-tax profits to €165m, and a 27% rise in profitability for the first nine months of the year to €408m.

Group revenue for the year to date is up 1%, year-on-year, at €6.02bn. The strong showing, especially for the third quarter, came against a number of headwinds relating to currency movements and raw material prices.