Should I buy, hold, or sell SON stock right now?

Sonoco Products Company (SON) currently earns a Roarable Rating of D+ (Sell — SELL) with 52/100 RQD Confidence. Stretched risk/reward at 5x P/E (11% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.

What is SON's 12-month price target and RQD AI Jury consensus?

SON's 12-month base price target is $48.61 (range $37.92 to $63.7), backed by transparent SEC XBRL cash-flow, Form 4 insider, and CBOE options flow analysis.

Stock Ratings / Consumer Discretionary / SON

REYN (70) GPK (54) WMS (71) AVY (74) ⌘ Pro Terminal →

Sonoco Products Company (SON) — RQD Stock Rating Cockpit

$49.96 +0.14% NYSE • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $49.88

Sonoco Products Company (SON) carries a Roarable Rating of D+ (Sell) with 52/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.

ROARABLE D+ • SELL / AVOID Cap $4.94B

📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card

⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on SON Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude

🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is SON stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

▼

As of 2026-11-03, Sonoco Products Company (NYSE: SON) is rated D+ (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 52/100 at a spot price of $49.96 (+0.14% 1D, market cap $4.94B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 6/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 9/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 12/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 8/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 17/20. Across 1009 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, SON ranks #498 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does SON compare to REYN and GPK in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

▼

Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Containers/Packaging), SON carries a Roarable D+ (52/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 4.9x, gross margin of 20.9%, and ROIC of 11.4%. By comparison, REYN (Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.) holds a B- grade (70/100 RQD, P/E 16.5x, ROIC 13.4%, cap $4.98B) and GPK (Graphic Packaging Holding Company) posts a D+ grade (54/100 RQD, P/E 5.9x, ROIC 7.8%, cap $2.65B). Among the 5-stock peer group, SON leads on earnings multiple (4.9x) while WMS leads on capital efficiency (22.3% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for SON?

▼

Per SON's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000091767), Sonoco Products Company generated $7.52B in revenue (+41.7% YoY), $1.00B in net income, and $345.8M in free cash flow against $11.16B in total assets and $3.79B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).

INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:

🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray

EXT / AFTER-HRS: $49.88 (-0.16%)🧬 Cannibal Buyback (-2.64% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 6/20 (E) • 4.6% FCF Margin

Verify 90D Bucket Audit →

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 52/100 (D+) historically posted market-perform odds over rolling 90-day windows (-1.1% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 50.1% hit rate — wait for RQD ≥ 70 breakout).

Audit Bucket Track Record →

RQD QUANT TACHOMETERSELL / AVOID • D+

JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground)

Cash

SEC

Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw D+ · Rk D

Each axis scored 0–20

12M PRICE TARGET CONE-2.7% Base Target

WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for SON)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±6%

Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (52/100 Composite)

🔍 WHY SON SCORES 52/100 (D+) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag

▲ #1 Bullish Driver: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution+17/20 pts (33% of score)

SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 85% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-2.64% YoY Shares)

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+12/20 pts (23% of score)

Altman Z-Score 1.80 (WATCH ZONE (1.8–3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 7/9

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Cash Engine Quality6/20 pts (-14 pt drag)

Capital intensity & 13.5% operating margin leave 14 pts on the table

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current

Q1 (-3Q)

Grade D$49.12+3.7% Next Q

Q2 (-2Q)

Grade D$50.96-4.3% Next Q

Q3 (-1Q)

Grade D$48.75+2.5% Next Q

Current

Grade D+$49.96-1.1% Hist 90D α

Trajectory: D (44) → D+ (52)Full Audit →

⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)CONTRARIAN TURNAROUND & SHORT-SQUEEZE DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a SON Turnaround Squeeze

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

While SON currently carries a cautious 52/100 (D+) rating due to Cash Engine Quality (6/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.

🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #1

Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction.

🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #2

Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($50.15) and Max Pain ($52.46) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $63.70.

🚀 Contrarian Squeeze Trigger #3

Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Cannibal Buyback (-2.64% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $SON• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite

Contract: “SON Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”

YES 52%NO 48%Trade / Inspect Odds →

RSI-14 MOMENTUMNEUTRAL RANGE

51.430 Oversold · 70 Hot

ALTMAN-Z SHIELDWATCH ZONE (1.8–3.0)

1.80>3.0 Fortress Safe

PIOTROSKI F-SCOREHIGH QUALITY (7–9)

7 / 99-Pt Accounting

52-WEEK LASER RANGE50% OF RANGE

L: $39$49.96H: $61

1. Money & Cash Health● WEAK

Are profits real cash in the bank?

Weak cash conversion or heavy valuation strain compared to actual cash earned.

Factor Grade: ERQD 6 / 20

2. Big Money & Insiders● NEUTRAL

Are whales & executives buying or selling?

Big funds and company insiders are mostly holding steady without aggressive buying or panic selling.

Factor Grade: CRQD 26 / 40

3. Hidden Risks & Market Weather● WARNING

SEC fine-print scan & interest-rate fit

High sensitivity to tight interest rates or new risk warnings added to recent SEC annual filings.

Factor Grade: DRQD 20 / 40

MULTI-MODEL JEV QUANT JURY DELIBERATION

JEV AI Jury Split (Battleground) on SON

Cash & Moat Bull AI

ROIC & Free Cash Flow Model

BEARISH (30)

11.4% ROIC with 20.9% gross margin and 7.01% FCF yield.

SEC Forensic Auditor AI

10-K Accruals & Altman-Z Guard

NEUTRAL (60)

Altman-Z 1.80 and Piotroski 7/9 pass balance-sheet audit.

Whale & Macro Hawk AI

Options Skew, 13F & Fed NetLiq

NEUTRAL (57)

26/40 institutional & smart-money positioning score with 8/20 macro alignment.

Bull Case: Why Buyers Like SON

✓Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction.

Bear Case: What Could Go Wrong

!Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity.
!Recent SEC filings added new risk-factor disclosures that warrant keeping an eye on margins.

ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Forensic Quant Desk

Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring SON)

✓Walkthrough of SON's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on your tracked stocks

RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED

Want Custom AI PineScript / Python Indicators & Priority Rating-Change Alerts?

Join Founding VIP Waitlist (No Card Required) →$100K Arena

SON // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +0.69%📐 HORIZONTAL RANGE

2026-11-03O $49.89H $49.96L $49.89C $49.96VOL 1.55M

RES: $62.44SUP: $46.73SMA50: $50.15SMA200: $52.42

PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

SON Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 SON Butterfly Map → + Track SON →

Share Count & Dilution Monitor

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle

-14.3%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +41.7% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on SON today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for SON. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video

🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for SON today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →

DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (SON)

Consumer Discretionary Rank #498 of 1009 ⚔️ REYN vs SON Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (SON vs. REYN, GPK, WMS, AVY)

Industry: Containers/Packaging (17 Tracked Issuers)

Across 1009 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Sonoco Products Company (SON) ranks #498 by composite RQD confidence (52/100, grade D+) and #272 by equity capitalization ($4.94B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, SON leads on earnings valuation at 4.9x trailing P/E, while WMS leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 22.3% ROIC and 38.3% gross margin. AVY currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 74/100 (B) compared with SON at 52/100 (D+).

Ticker / Company	Roarable Grade	RQD Score	Trailing P/E	Gross Margin	ROIC	1D Change	Market Cap	Head-to-Head
SON ACTIVE Sonoco Products Company	D+	52/100	4.9x	20.9%	11.4%	+0.14%	$4.94B	Benchmark Subject
REYN Reynolds Consumer Products Inc.	B-	70/100	16.5x	24.6%	13.4%	+0.13%	$4.98B	/reyn-vs-son →
GPK Graphic Packaging Holding Company	D+	54/100	5.9x	18.2%	7.8%	+1.59%	$2.65B	/gpk-vs-son →
WMS Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.	B-	71/100	24.0x	38.3%	22.3%	-0.80%	$10.21B	/wms-vs-son →
AVY Avery Dennison Corporation	B	74/100	20.1x	28.8%	17.4%	+0.09%	$13.81B	/avy-vs-son →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0000091767 ↗

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Sonoco Products Company (SON) reported GAAP revenue of $7.52B (+41.7% vs. FY2024 revenue of $5.31B , and +38.2% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $1.00B, operating cash flow of $689.8M, and free cash flow of $345.8M (-21.5% YoY). On the balance sheet, SON closed FY2025 with $11.16B in total assets against $3.79B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 1.80, Piotroski F-Score: 7/9).

Fiscal Period	Filing Date	Revenue	Net Income	Operating Cash Flow	Free Cash Flow	Total Assets	Total Debt
FY2025 (FY)	2025-12-31	$7.52B	$1.00B	$689.8M	$345.8M	$11.16B	$3.79B
FY2024 (FY)	2024-12-31	$5.31B	$163.9M	$833.8M	$440.6M	$12.51B	$4.99B
FY2023 (FY)	2023-12-31	$5.44B	$475.0M	$882.9M	$638.1M	$6.53B	$1.53B

3. SON Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is SON stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

How does SON compare to REYN and GPK in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for SON?

Where is SON trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

SON last traded at $49.96 (+0.14% on volume of 1,548,789 shares), positioning the stock -0.38% below its 50-day simple moving average ($50.15) and -4.69% below its 200-day simple moving average ($52.42). Across its 52-week range of $39.27 to $60.67, SON sits at the 50.0% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 51.4 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±6.0% ($46.96 to $52.96).

Direct Sub-Reports: SON RQD Cockpit SON 12M Forecast SON Earnings & Move SON Dividends & DRIP SON Insiders & 13F SON Whale Options SON Profit Sankey SON News & Why

ROARABLE RATING BRIEF • RQD 52/100 (D+) ✓ SEC XBRL & RQD VERIFIED

SON — Sonoco Products Company: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor

Methodology: RQD v6.2 Deterministic 5-Pillar & SEC XBRL Audit

Updated: 2025-12-31

1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor

Sonoco Products Company (SON) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 52/100, corresponding to a D+ letter grade (Roarable Sell) at a spot price of $49.96 (+0.14% 1D, market capitalization $4.94B).

Fundamental Cash Engine (6/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of 11.4%, gross margin of 20.9%, operating margin of 13.5%, and free cash flow yield of 7.01%.
Whale 13F & Options Flow (9/20) + Insider Conviction (17/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
Macro Regime Fit (8/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (12/20): Incorporates a 1.04x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of 1.80, Piotroski F-Score of 7/9, and Debt/Equity of 1.05x.

2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory

Sonoco Products Company (SON) is a NYSE-listed operating company in the Containers/Packaging industry (Consumer Discretionary sector) with an equity market capitalization of $4.94B. The business operates with a gross margin of 20.9%, an operating margin of 13.5%, and a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 11.4% (free cash flow yield of 7.01%). Within the Containers/Packaging peer group, investor evaluation centers on operating leverage, unit margin durability, and capital allocation efficiency across market cycles.

In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2025-12-31), Sonoco Products Company (SON) reported $7.52B in annual revenue (up from $5.31B in FY2024, +41.7% YoY) and $1.00B in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($5.44B revenue, $475.0M net income) through FY2025, SON scaled operating cash flow to $689.8M and free cash flow to $345.8M, backed by $11.16B in total assets against $3.79B in total debt.

3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff

🐂 Primary Bull Case (D+ • RQD 52/100): Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction. Free cash flow yield of 7.01% and institutional whale pillar of 9/20. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 6/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 9/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $39.27 – $60.67 52-week range.
🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity. Investors must weigh 4.9x trailing P/E and 6.4x EV/EBITDA against 13.5% operating margins and a 1.04x macro beta.

4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch

Operating in Containers/Packaging (Consumer Discretionary), SON carries a macro regime beta of 1.04 and gross margin of 20.9%.

Key Question #1: Can SON sustain or expand its 13.5% operating margin and 11.4% ROIC against Containers/Packaging peers over the next 4 quarters?
Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $7.52B and free cash flow of $345.8M, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $3.79B in total debt?
Key Question #3: How sensitive is SON's 4.2x forward P/E multiple to Consumer Discretionary capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 1.04x)?

SON Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire

Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Sonoco Products Company (SON) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below

💬 Jump to SON Debate Forum (3) ↓

🟡 MARKET WIRE Yahoo! Finance Canada • 1d ago

Sonoco Products Company (SON) Stock Price, News, Quote & History

Yahoo! Finance Canada report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟢 CATALYST Seeking Alpha • 1d ago

Sonoco Products: Europe Weighs, But Cheap Enough To Add (Upgrade)

Seeking Alpha report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE MarketBeat • 1d ago

Sonoco Products Company $SON Stock: State of Alaska Department of Revenue Grows Stake

MarketBeat report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE marketscreener.com • 1d ago

Earnings Flash (SON) Sonoco Products Company Reports Q3 Revenue $2.04B, vs. FactSet Est of $2.07B

marketscreener.com report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Stock Titan • 1d ago

747.4 stock-linked units accrue to Sonoco (SON) director Kyle under its deferred compensation plan.

Stock Titan report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔴 RISK WATCH Yahoo Finance • 1d ago

Bear of the Day: Sonoco (SON)

Yahoo Finance report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE GlobeNewswire • 1d ago

Sonoco Declares Regular Quarterly Common Stock Dividend

GlobeNewswire report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🟡 MARKET WIRE Seeking Alpha • 1d ago

Sonoco Products Company 2026 Q3 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation (NYSE:SON) 2026-10-24

Seeking Alpha report covering Sonoco Products Company (SON) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.

Read Full Source ↗

🔥 THE ROAR PIT • LIVE COMMUNITY DEBATE 3 Active Posts & Replies

SON Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $49.96?

🐂 67% BULLISH CONVICTION COMMUNITY TUG-OF-WAR ON SON 🐻 33% BEARISH CONVICTION

MA MacroHawk_NYC RQD DEBATE OPENER • Cross-Asset Macro Desk 🐂 BULLISH 🎯 Target: $61.45 (+23.0%)

📌 Pinned Debate

Insider conviction scores 17 of 20 and the stock trades at 4.2x forward earnings with a 4.22% dividend yield.

The street is overcomplicating Sonoco Products Company (SON). Insider conviction scores 17 of 20 and the stock trades at 4.2x forward earnings with a 4.22% dividend yield.. With an RQD score of 52/100 (D+) and Forensic Balance Sheet at 12/20, any positive earnings surprise or guidance raise forces underweight funds to chase above $53.96.

VolSurface_Trader 🐂 BULL

Both sides have a point here — SON's 12/20 balance sheet score keeps downside contained, so the real swing factor next earnings call is backlog and FCF conversion.

MU MultipleCompression RQD DEBATE OPENER • Valuation Discipline 🐻 BEARISH 🎯 Target: $40.47 (-19.0%)

Spot @ $49.96

The forensic balance sheet scores 12 of 20 with Debt/Equity at 1.05, and the cash-engine pillar scores only 6 of 20.

I respect the product at Sonoco Products Company, but the stock at $49.96 is a different story. The forensic balance sheet scores 12 of 20 with Debt/Equity at 1.05, and the cash-engine pillar scores only 6 of 20.. FCF yield is 7.01% and RQD sits at 52/100 (D+) — why pay up here when you can wait for next quarter's numbers?