International Paper (IP) Stock Price, Fundamentals & Analysis

What IP does

International Paper (IP) produces and sells renewable fiber-based packaging in North America, Latin America, Europe, South America, and North Africa. It operates through two segments, Packaging Solutions North America and Packaging Solutions EMEA, offering linerboard, medium, whitetop, and saturating kraft, and converting containerboard into corrugated boxes, bulk bins, shipping containers, and specialty packaging. Its products support customers in food and beverage, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. The company was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. IP is part of the S&P 500 and sits in the Packaging & Containers industry within the Consumer Cyclical sector.

Key numbers explained

• 35.7 USD is the current share price, the amount you would pay for one share right now.
• The forward P/E ratio of 11.9 compares the price to expected future earnings; a lower number can suggest the stock is priced more conservatively relative to earnings expectations.
• The dividend yield of 5.18% shows the annual dividend as a percentage of the current share price, indicating the cash return you would receive if the dividend stayed at its current level.
• The ex-dividend date of Aug 14, 2026 is the cutoff: you must own the stock before this date to receive the next dividend payment.
• A debt-to-equity ratio of 68.5% means the company has 68.5 cents of debt for every dollar of shareholder equity, a measure of financial leverage.
• The beta of 0.88 suggests IP tends to move about 12% less than the overall market, indicating lower volatility relative to the broad market.
• The price-to-book ratio of 1.31 compares the market price to the company's book value per share, a basic way to see whether the market values the company above or below its accounting net assets.
• The share of earnings paid out as dividends of 158% means the company is paying out more in dividends than it is currently earning, which can be sustainable if supported by cash flow or other sources.

Recent news

Recent headlines include a piece on what happens to the IP dividend when the split closes, a JPMorgan adjustment of its price target to 62 from 61 with an Overweight rating, and articles on stocks to avoid, including one titled "3 Reasons to Avoid IP and 1 Stock to Buy Instead." Other headlines ask whether IP is underperforming the Dow and note a surge in IONQ stock, but the focus on IP remains on its dividend and relative performance.

What to watch

Investors tracking IP may watch packaging demand tied to consumer spending, raw material costs for fiber-based packaging, and currency movements across its global operations. Because IP is part of the Consumer Cyclical sector, shifts in consumer confidence and retail activity can affect its outlook. The company's leverage and dividend coverage are also relevant, as is any change in the competitive landscape within Packaging & Containers. For broader context, peers such as Avery Dennison (AVY) operate in adjacent materials and packaging spaces.