IP Consumer Cyclical

International Paper Company

$35.12-4.15%

Price as of close on Nov 3, 2026 · Financials updated Oct 9, 2026

Basics

Sector: Consumer Cyclical
Industry: Packaging & Containers
Country: United States
Market cap: 18.6B USD
Enterprise value: 26.5B USD
Full-time employees: 62,602

Overall health

Strength: growing faster than most peersgrowing faster than peers
Drawback: less profitable than most peersless profitable than peers
Drawback: its share price swings more than most peers’ (beta 0.89 vs a peer median of 0.63), though less than the overall marketbigger price swings (beta 0.89 vs peers 0.63)
Drawback: less short-term liquidity (current ratio 1.10 vs a peer median of 1.48)less liquidity (current ratio 1.10 vs peers 1.48)
About average: valuation and risk (debt, liquidity and share-price swings)valuation and risk

Ranks #1,012 of 1,502 consumer cyclical companies (bottom 33%)

See how it ranks against its peers

Worth knowing

Returning more cash than it generates. Paid out $2.6B vs $1.3B of free cash flow over the 3 fiscal years to 2025.
International Paper returned $2.6B to shareholders over three years, 199% of the free cash flow it produced. That gap has to be covered by cash reserves or new debt, which can't last indefinitely.
Investment surge. Capital spending 7.9% of revenue, up from 4.4% in 2022.
International Paper is spending 7.9% of revenue on facilities and equipment, up from 4.4% in 2022. That weighs on free cash flow today; whether it pays off depends on the returns those investments earn.
Valuation signals disagree. Cheaper than 77% of peers on operating cash profit (EBITDA), but only 0% on earnings.Cheaper than 77% of peers on operating cash profit, but only 0% on earnings.
Relative to its operating cash profit (EBITDA), International Paper looks cheaper than 77% of peers; relative to its earnings, cheaper than only 0%. The valuation score blends the two, so look at which measure fits this business best.Relative to its operating cash profit, International Paper looks cheaper than 77% of peers; relative to its earnings, cheaper than only 0%. The valuation score blends the two, so look at which measure fits this business best.
Growing fast, still losing money. Revenue grew faster than 95% of peers, at an operating loss.
Revenue grew faster than 95% of peers, but the business runs at an operating loss (margin -0.0%).

StockQuotient Score

43/ 100▼ 1 since Oct 27 close

Oct 5 45 → Nov 4 43 (-2)

Valuation

Is the price right?

49/100

Moderate▼ 1 since Oct 27 close

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major changeValuation also moves with the share price every day.

Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Score 50 → 49

Share price +5.2%-2
Company's reported figures updated+1

Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.

Why

Mixed versus peers:

▲ EBITDA yield
▼ Earnings yield
▼ FCF yield

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Sector-normalized EBITDA, earnings, and free cash flow yields.

Earnings yield-18.5%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Negative (a loss or cash outflow), so it counts as zero whatever the share price30% base weight · Z-score -1.34Sector median: 0.0439 · MAD: 0.0329

EBITDA yield14.2%

Yahoo Finance fallback · SEC enterprise value unavailable (debt or EBITDA not reported in standard form) · trailing 12 monthsReported value50% base weight · Z-score 1.17Sector median: 0.0877 · MAD: 0.0461

Free cash flow yield2.6%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026 · operating cash flow − capital spendingReported value20% base weight · Z-score -0.64Sector median: 0.0614 · MAD: 0.0545

Other data (not scored)

Book yield77.7%

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.5650 · MAD: 0.3500

Growth

Is it growing?

78/100

Moderate▼ 1 since Oct 27 close

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why it changed since the Oct 27, 2026 close: Score 79 → 78

Peer companies moved-1

Each step re-scores the company against its peers as they were on Oct 28, 2026; the parts add up to the change. Price effects on EBITDA yield are approximate.

Why

Stronger than most peers on:

▲ Revenue growth

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Revenue and earnings-per-share growth over one year, and revenue growth over three years.

Earnings per share growthUnavailable

The loss per share widened33% base weight · Z-score -1.22Sector median: 0.0420 · MAD: 0.2537

3-year revenue growth6.1%

SEC filings · 3 years to Jun 2026Reported value33% base weight · Z-score 0.30Sector median: 0.0425 · MAD: 0.0636

Revenue growth35.3%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Outlier capped at sector 5th/95th percentile33% base weight · Z-score 4.60Sector median: 0.0373 · MAD: 0.0653

Profitability

Does it earn well?

12/100

Weak

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why

Weaker than most peers on:

▼ ROA
▼ Operating margin
▼ ROIC

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Return on invested capital, operating margin, and return on assets.

Operating margin-0.0%

Yahoo Finance fallback · SEC operating income not reported in standard form · fiscal year to Dec 2025Reported value33% base weight · Z-score -1.39Sector median: 0.0638 · MAD: 0.0461

Return on assets-9.4%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Outlier capped at sector 5th/95th percentile33% base weight · Z-score -3.27Sector median: 0.0331 · MAD: 0.0254

Return on invested capital1.9%

Yahoo Finance fallback · SEC operating income or invested capital unavailable · trailing 12 monthsReported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.91Sector median: 0.0733 · MAD: 0.0600

Other data (not scored)

Gross margin29.8%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.3025 · MAD: 0.1399

Return on equity-23.8%

SEC filings · 12 months to Jun 2026Reported valueInformational · 0% composite weightSector median: 0.0746 · MAD: 0.0674

Risk

Debt, liquidity, price swings

Moderate

Moderate relative risk

3/3 inputs reported · High confidence

Since last quarter: No major change

Why

Held back by:

▼ Current ratio
▼ Beta

Compare with peers

Behind the score

Relative to sector peers: 0 = lower relative risk · 1 = moderate · 2 = higher. Based on leverage, beta and liquidity.

Beta0.89

Yahoo Finance · 5-year monthly beta vs the marketReported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.85Sector median: 0.6345 · MAD: 0.2980

Current ratio1.10×

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.69Sector median: 1.4800 · MAD: 0.5570

Debt / equity0.64×

SEC filings · latest balance sheetReported value33% base weight · Z-score -0.49Sector median: 0.4646 · MAD: 0.3556

Valuation, growth and profitability scores: higher is better. Risk: 0 is lower, 2 is higher. Risk is a relative proxy, not a bankruptcy probability. Scores depend on available sector peers.

Questions investors ask about International Paper

Is International Paper getting weaker?: Its latest SEC filing (Aug 5, 2026) showed no major changes. Its overall score is 43/100, down 1 since Oct 28, 2026.
How is International Paper valued vs its peers?: Priced about in line with its peers. Valuation scores 49/100 against 1,612 consumer cyclical peers. EBITDA yield 14.2% vs a peer median of 8.8% (stronger than 77% of peers).EBITDA yield 14.2% vs peers 8.8% (stronger than 77% of peers). Earnings yield -18.5% vs a peer median of 4.4% (weaker than 100% of peers).Earnings yield -18.5% vs peers 4.4% (weaker than 100% of peers).
Is International Paper growing?: Yes, faster than most of its peers. Growth scores 78/100 against 1,612 consumer cyclical peers. Revenue growth 35.3% vs a peer median of 3.7% (stronger than 95% of peers).Revenue growth 35.3% vs peers 3.7% (stronger than 95% of peers).
How profitable is International Paper?: Less profitable than most of its peers. Profitability scores 12/100 against 1,612 consumer cyclical peers. Return on assets -9.4% vs a peer median of 3.3% (weaker than 100% of peers).Return on assets -9.4% vs peers 3.3% (weaker than 100% of peers).
How risky is International Paper?: Moderate risk relative to 1,612 consumer cyclical peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings. Current ratio 1.10× vs a peer median of 1.48× (weaker than 71% of peers).Current ratio 1.10× vs peers 1.48× (weaker than 71% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.

Latest filing: what changed

Quarter ended Jun 30, 2026 · filed Aug 5, 2026 · compared with the quarter ended Mar 31, 2026

No major changes

Worth watching: International Paper is in the bottom fifth of its sector on profitability. From 2021 to 2025, 63% of companies in that position posted a loss over the following year, against 4% for the top fifth.

	Previous quarter	Latest quarter	Change
Revenue (12 months)	24.3B USD	24.2B USD	−0.6%
Net income (12 months)	−3.4B USD	−3.4B USD	+2.6%
Free cash flow (12 months)	553.0M USD	492.0M USD	−11.0%
Debt	9.1B USD	9.2B USD	+1.3%
Cash	1.2B USD	726.0M USD	−41.3%
Shares outstanding	529.5M	529.6M	+0.0%

From the company’s own SEC filings, as filed. Twelve-month figures roll forward one quarter at a time.

Industry valuation context

Sector: Consumer Cyclical · 182 companies

Valuations in Consumer Cyclical are within their usual range since 2016.

36% of months since 2016 were valued lower than now.
15% of companies are in the most expensive fifth of their own price-to-sales history.
Over 24 months, company values +0% and earnings +10% (medians): prices and earnings moved broadly together.
Median price-to-sales is −55% vs the whole market, against a usual −41%.

2016Shaded: most expensive fifth of its range2026

Shown for Consumer Cyclical: too few Packaging & Containers companies have a long enough history of their own.

Financials

Fiscal years from SEC annual filings · change vs the prior year

Key ratios	FY 2021	FY 2022	FY 2023	FY 2024	FY 2025	Change
Operating margin	—	—	—	—	—	—
Net margin	9.0%	7.1%	1.8%	3.5%	-14.9%	▼ 18 pts
Return on assets (ROA)	6.9%	6.3%	1.2%	2.4%	-9.3%	▼ 12 pts
Return on equity (ROE)	19.3%	17.7%	3.4%	6.8%	-23.7%	▼ 31 pts
Free cash flow margin	8.0%	5.9%	4.3%	4.8%	-0.7%	▼ 5.5 pts
Current ratio	1.71×	1.35×	1.67×	1.51×	1.28×	▼ 15%
Quick ratio	1.27×	0.97×	1.19×	1.16×	1.02×	▼ 12%
Debt to equity	0.61×	0.66×	0.67×	0.68×	0.66×	▼ 2.4%
Interest coverage	—	—	—	—	—	—

IP price history

Price history is added with the daily price update and will appear after the next one.

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Bringing the fundamentals into focus…

Overall health

Strength: growing faster than most peersgrowing faster than peers

Drawback: less profitable than most peersless profitable than peers

Drawback: its share price swings more than most peers’ (beta 0.89 vs a peer median of 0.63), though less than the overall marketbigger price swings (beta 0.89 vs peers 0.63)

Drawback: less short-term liquidity (current ratio 1.10 vs a peer median of 1.48)less liquidity (current ratio 1.10 vs peers 1.48)

About average: valuation and risk (debt, liquidity and share-price swings)valuation and risk

Ranks #1,012 of 1,502 consumer cyclical companies (bottom 33%)

See how it ranks against its peers

Worth knowing

Returning more cash than it generates. Paid out $2.6B vs $1.3B of free cash flow over the 3 fiscal years to 2025.

International Paper returned $2.6B to shareholders over three years, 199% of the free cash flow it produced. That gap has to be covered by cash reserves or new debt, which can't last indefinitely.

Investment surge. Capital spending 7.9% of revenue, up from 4.4% in 2022.

International Paper is spending 7.9% of revenue on facilities and equipment, up from 4.4% in 2022. That weighs on free cash flow today; whether it pays off depends on the returns those investments earn.

Valuation signals disagree. Cheaper than 77% of peers on operating cash profit (EBITDA), but only 0% on earnings.Cheaper than 77% of peers on operating cash profit, but only 0% on earnings.

Relative to its operating cash profit (EBITDA), International Paper looks cheaper than 77% of peers; relative to its earnings, cheaper than only 0%. The valuation score blends the two, so look at which measure fits this business best.Relative to its operating cash profit, International Paper looks cheaper than 77% of peers; relative to its earnings, cheaper than only 0%. The valuation score blends the two, so look at which measure fits this business best.

Growing fast, still losing money. Revenue grew faster than 95% of peers, at an operating loss.

Revenue grew faster than 95% of peers, but the business runs at an operating loss (margin -0.0%).

Questions investors ask about International Paper

Is International Paper getting weaker?

Its latest SEC filing (Aug 5, 2026) showed no major changes. Its overall score is 43/100, down 1 since Oct 28, 2026.

How is International Paper valued vs its peers?

Priced about in line with its peers. Valuation scores 49/100 against 1,612 consumer cyclical peers. EBITDA yield 14.2% vs a peer median of 8.8% (stronger than 77% of peers).EBITDA yield 14.2% vs peers 8.8% (stronger than 77% of peers). Earnings yield -18.5% vs a peer median of 4.4% (weaker than 100% of peers).Earnings yield -18.5% vs peers 4.4% (weaker than 100% of peers).

Is International Paper growing?

Yes, faster than most of its peers. Growth scores 78/100 against 1,612 consumer cyclical peers. Revenue growth 35.3% vs a peer median of 3.7% (stronger than 95% of peers).Revenue growth 35.3% vs peers 3.7% (stronger than 95% of peers).

How profitable is International Paper?

Less profitable than most of its peers. Profitability scores 12/100 against 1,612 consumer cyclical peers. Return on assets -9.4% vs a peer median of 3.3% (weaker than 100% of peers).Return on assets -9.4% vs peers 3.3% (weaker than 100% of peers).

How risky is International Paper?

Moderate risk relative to 1,612 consumer cyclical peers, judged on debt, liquidity and share-price swings. Current ratio 1.10× vs a peer median of 1.48× (weaker than 71% of peers).Current ratio 1.10× vs peers 1.48× (weaker than 71% of peers). A relative measure, not a bankruptcy probability.

Previous quarter

Latest quarter

Change

Revenue (12 months)

24.3B USD

24.2B USD

−0.6%

Net income (12 months)

−3.4B USD

−3.4B USD

+2.6%

Free cash flow (12 months)

553.0M USD

492.0M USD

−11.0%

Debt

9.1B USD

9.2B USD

+1.3%

Cash

1.2B USD

726.0M USD

−41.3%

Shares outstanding

529.5M

529.6M

+0.0%

Key ratios

FY 2021

FY 2022

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

Change

Operating margin

—

Net margin

9.0%

7.1%

1.8%

3.5%

-14.9%

▼ 18 pts

Return on assets (ROA)

6.9%

6.3%

1.2%

2.4%

-9.3%

▼ 12 pts

Return on equity (ROE)

19.3%

17.7%

3.4%

6.8%

-23.7%

▼ 31 pts

Free cash flow margin

8.0%

5.9%

4.3%

4.8%

-0.7%

▼ 5.5 pts

Current ratio

1.71×

1.35×

1.67×

1.51×

1.28×

▼ 15%

Quick ratio

1.27×

0.97×

1.19×

1.16×

1.02×

▼ 12%

Debt to equity

0.61×

0.66×

0.67×

0.68×

0.66×

▼ 2.4%

Interest coverage

—