SONOCO PRODUCTS CO
SON · Paperboard Containers & Boxes · 98.9M shares · -1%/yr ↓ buyback · EDGAR filings ↗
Net buyback after stock comp: -$17M (gross $11M, SBC $28M)
Reference price $50.37 · est. market cap ~$5.0B — last insider purchase, 2026-04-27 (estimated from the dated SEC Form 4 price × shares outstanding — not a live quote)
Grade
B76Above-average global packaging franchise with strong returns and cash generation, though growth is acquisition-fueled and leverage is elevated.
Strengths
- Top-quartile returns: ROE 27.8% (82nd pct), ROA 9.0% (87th pct), net margin 13.3% (79th pct)
- Strong FCF ($346M, 80th pct) and 94th-pct net income growth aided by portfolio simplification and divestitures
Risks
- High leverage (D/E 1.20, 82nd pct) and weak liquidity (current 1.05, quick 0.60) after the $3.8B Eviosys deal
- Low gross margin (20.9%, 20th pct) and heavy international/FX exposure (~52% non-US sales)
Notable findings
- Exec changeRecent 8-K item 5.02 8-K ↗
- Customer concentration~48% of revenue from one customer/distributor — Geographically, in 2025, approximately 48% of sales were generated in the United States, 43% in EMEA, 3% in APAC, 1% in Canada, and 5% in other regions
- Insider buyingInsider buying — 2 open-market buy(s) by 2 insider(s) (cluster of 2 insiders, ~$740,182, last 6mo) Form 4 ↗
- China exposureCertain products are subject to export control laws and regulations and may be exported only with an export license or through an applicable export license exception
- Insider sellingInsider selling — 2 open-market sale(s) by 2 insider(s) (cluster of 2 insiders, last 6mo) Form 4 ↗
Quarterly revenue
Last 4 quarters · from SEC filings.
Key metrics
Gross margin
20.9%
Operating margin
13.5%
Net margin
13.3%
Return on equity
27.8%
Return on assets
9.0%
ROIC
10.1%
Revenue growth (QoQ)
-5.2%
Net-income growth
511.8%
Debt / equity
1.2×
Net debt / EBITDA
2.6×
Current ratio
1.0×
Free cash flow
$346M
EBITDA
$1.5B
Tangible book value
-$1.6B
Cash & investments
$378M
Stock comp / revenue
0.2%
Insider transactions · last 18 months
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | Harrell James A. III | Buy | 6.8K | $50.37 |
| 2026-04-24 | Joachimczyk Paul | Buy | 8.1K | $49.64 |
| 2026-02-27 | Haynes Ernest D III | Sell | 1.6K | $56.39 |
| 2026-02-25 | Coker R. Howard | Gift | 2.1K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Haynes Ernest D III | Option exercise | 1.8K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Florence John M | Option exercise | 3.1K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Florence John M | Tax withheld | 935 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 820 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 21K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 9.5K | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 384 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Cheatham Jerry A | Option exercise | 1.9K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 687 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 2.5K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 748 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Cairns Sean | Option exercise | 1.8K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 426 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | White Andrea B. | Option exercise | 2.3K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 962 | — |
| 2026-02-21 | White Andrea B. | Tax withheld | 702 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 343 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Fuller Rodger D | Option exercise | 6.2K | — |
| 2026-02-21 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 2.7K | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-21 | Wood Adam | Option exercise | 816 | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 7.8K | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Wood Adam | Option exercise | 668 | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Wood Adam | Disposition | 314 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | White Andrea B. | Option exercise | 787 | — |
| 2026-02-20 | White Andrea B. | Tax withheld | 239 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Haynes Ernest D III | Option exercise | 1.1K | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 503 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 2.0K | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 593 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 473 | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 169 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Fuller Rodger D | Option exercise | 5.0K | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 1.5K | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Florence John M | Option exercise | 78 | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Florence John M | Tax withheld | 78 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 17K | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Cheatham Jerry A | Option exercise | 315 | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 113 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-20 | Cairns Sean | Option exercise | 1.3K | — |
| 2026-02-20 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 290 | $56.45 |
| 2026-02-19 | Wood Adam | Grant | 1.2K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 572 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | White Andrea B. | Grant | 478 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | White Andrea B. | Tax withheld | 146 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Haynes Ernest D III | Grant | 1.8K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 814 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Harrell James A. III | Grant | 3.6K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 1.1K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Gandhi Aditya | Grant | 478 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 171 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Fuller Rodger D | Grant | 9.2K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 3.0K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Coker R. Howard | Grant | 31K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 14K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Cheatham Jerry A | Grant | 230 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 83 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Cairns Sean | Grant | 1.8K | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 423 | $43.64 |
| 2026-02-19 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 112 | $40.41 |
| 2026-02-19 | Harrell James A. III | Sell | 20 | $57.84 |
| 2026-02-19 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 92 | $57.99 |
| 2026-02-13 | Florence John M | Option exercise | 74 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Florence John M | Tax withheld | 74 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Wood Adam | Option exercise | 635 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 299 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | White Andrea B. | Option exercise | 374 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | White Andrea B. | Tax withheld | 134 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Haynes Ernest D III | Option exercise | 958 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 476 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 1.9K | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 662 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 374 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 134 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Fuller Rodger D | Option exercise | 4.8K | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 1.6K | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 16K | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 5.0K | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Cheatham Jerry A | Option exercise | 180 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 65 | $51.67 |
| 2026-02-13 | Cairns Sean | Option exercise | 958 | — |
| 2026-02-13 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 221 | $51.67 |
| 2025-12-02 | Coker R. Howard | Gift | 2.4K | — |
| 2025-10-29 | Joachimczyk Paul | Buy | 10 | $39.44 |
| 2025-10-29 | Joachimczyk Paul | Buy | 20K | $39.50 |
| 2025-10-29 | Joachimczyk Paul | Buy | 75 | $39.49 |
| 2025-10-29 | Joachimczyk Paul | Buy | 75 | $39.48 |
| 2025-10-29 | Joachimczyk Paul | Buy | 23 | $39.46 |
| 2025-10-28 | Haley John R | Buy | 2.5K | $39.87 |
| 2025-10-01 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 496 | $45.43 |
| 2025-10-01 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 1.6K | — |
| 2025-09-10 | Coker R. Howard | Gift | 2.2K | — |
| 2025-08-07 | Coker R. Howard | Gift | 2.3K | — |
| 2025-05-07 | Cheatham Jerry A | Grant | 2.3K | $44.26 |
| 2025-05-02 | Haley John R | Buy | 2.2K | $44.57 |
| 2025-05-01 | Coker R. Howard | Buy | 20K | $41.17 |
| 2025-04-30 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Buy | 3.0K | $40.51 |
| 2025-04-30 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Buy | 2.5K | $40.14 |
| 2025-03-13 | Coker R. Howard | Buy | 20K | $46.10 |
| 2025-02-27 | Haley John R | Buy | 3.0K | $46.76 |
| 2025-02-26 | Haynes Ernest D III | Sell | 2.5K | $47.09 |
| 2025-02-21 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 2.9K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Haynes Ernest D III | Grant | 6.1K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 2.7K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Harrell James A. III | Grant | 17K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 6.4K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Grissett Russell K | Tax withheld | 1.8K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Grissett Russell K | Grant | 6.1K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 1.2K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Fuller Rodger D | Grant | 43K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 19K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Cairns Sean | Grant | 5.1K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Grant | 142K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Buy | 20K | $46.48 |
| 2025-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 18K | $46.16 |
| 2025-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 18K | $46.45 |
| 2025-02-21 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 65K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Cheatham Jerry A | Grant | 1.2K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 415 | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-21 | Wood Adam | Grant | 6.1K | $48.85 |
| 2025-02-20 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 494 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 472 | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 170 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Wood Adam | Option exercise | 667 | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 314 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Haynes Ernest D III | Option exercise | 1.1K | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 2.0K | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 597 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Grissett Russell K | Option exercise | 1.1K | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Grissett Russell K | Tax withheld | 326 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Fuller Rodger D | Option exercise | 5.0K | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 1.5K | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 17K | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 7.8K | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Cheatham Jerry A | Option exercise | 315 | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 113 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-20 | Cairns Sean | Option exercise | 1.3K | — |
| 2025-02-20 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 290 | $46.24 |
| 2025-02-13 | Grissett Russell K | Option exercise | 697 | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Wood Adam | Option exercise | 616 | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 290 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Haynes Ernest D III | Option exercise | 929 | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 454 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 1.8K | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 646 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Grissett Russell K | Tax withheld | 237 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 363 | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 131 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Fuller Rodger D | Option exercise | 4.6K | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 1.5K | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 16K | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 4.9K | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Cheatham Jerry A | Option exercise | 174 | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 63 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-13 | Cairns Sean | Option exercise | 929 | — |
| 2025-02-13 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 214 | $48.20 |
| 2025-02-10 | Cheatham Jerry A | Tax withheld | 69 | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Cairns Sean | Tax withheld | 194 | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Fuller Rodger D | Option exercise | 4.7K | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Fuller Rodger D | Tax withheld | 1.6K | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Coker R. Howard | Option exercise | 16K | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Coker R. Howard | Tax withheld | 4.8K | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Cheatham Jerry A | Option exercise | 191 | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Cairns Sean | Option exercise | 840 | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Wood Adam | Option exercise | 672 | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Wood Adam | Tax withheld | 316 | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Haynes Ernest D III | Option exercise | 672 | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Haynes Ernest D III | Tax withheld | 334 | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Harrell James A. III | Option exercise | 1.9K | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Harrell James A. III | Tax withheld | 682 | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Grissett Russell K | Option exercise | 672 | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Grissett Russell K | Tax withheld | 229 | $46.93 |
| 2025-02-10 | Gandhi Aditya | Option exercise | 476 | — |
| 2025-02-10 | Gandhi Aditya | Tax withheld | 171 | $46.93 |
| 2025-01-07 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Sell | 20 | $47.95 |
| 2025-01-07 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Sell | 4.0K | $47.95 |
| 2025-01-07 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Grant | 4.0K | $47.95 |
| 2025-01-07 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Grant | 20 | $47.95 |
| 2025-01-07 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Buy | 20 | $47.95 |
| 2025-01-07 | HILL ROBERT R JR | Buy | 4.0K | $47.95 |
All non-derivative Form 4 activity (SEC), newest first.
Notable events (8-K)
| Date | Items | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-11 | Exec/director change | filing ↗ |
| 2026-04-21 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-04-16 | Shareholder vote | filing ↗ |
| 2026-03-23 | Material agreementDebt obligationExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-02-20 | Exec/director changeExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-02-17 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-02-17 | Reg FDExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-02-12 | Exec/director changeReg FDExhibits | filing ↗ |
Recent filings
| Form | Filed | Period | Accession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-K | 2026-05-11 | 2026-05-05 | 0000091767-26-000024 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2026-04-28 | 2026-03-29 | 0000091767-26-000022 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-04-21 | 2026-04-21 | 0000091767-26-000019 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-04-16 | 2026-04-15 | 0000091767-26-000016 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-03-23 | 2026-03-23 | 0001104659-26-033319 ↗ |
| 10-K | 2026-02-26 | 2025-12-31 | 0000091767-26-000008 ↗ |
| 8-K/A | 2026-02-20 | 2026-01-20 | 0001104659-26-017873 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-02-17 | 2026-02-17 | 0001104659-26-015939 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-02-17 | 2026-02-16 | 0000091767-26-000003 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-02-12 | 2026-02-10 | 0001104659-26-013958 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-01-20 | 2026-01-20 | 0001104659-26-005124 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-11-03 | 2025-11-03 | 0001104659-25-105673 ↗ |