Packaging Stocks Lead Today's Decline Amid Ongoing Tariff Issues.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 23 2026
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Market Reaction: Shares of U.S. packaging companies experienced significant declines on Monday.
- Price Drop: The decline in share prices was attributed to an unexpected fall in cardboard prices.
- Demand Issues: The drop in cardboard prices was linked to sluggish demand in the market.
- Industry Impact: The overall performance of packaging companies reflects broader economic challenges related to demand.
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Analyst Views on IP
Wall Street analysts forecast IP stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
9 Buy
2 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 38.390
Low
36.00
Averages
48.35
High
57.80
Current: 38.390
Low
36.00
Averages
48.35
High
57.80
About IP
International Paper Company provides sustainable packaging solutions. The Company is a global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products. Its segments include Packaging Solutions North America, Packaging Solutions EMEA and Global Cellulose Fibers. Packaging Solutions North America and Packaging Solutions EMEA segments are primarily focused on producing fiber-based packaging. It produces linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium and saturating kraft of which a majority of its production is converted into corrugated packaging and other packaging. Global Cellulose Fibers segment primarily focuses on producing cellulose fibers which is a renewable raw material used in a variety of products people depend on every day such as diapers, towel and tissue products, feminine care, incontinence and other personal care products. Its specialty pulps serve as a sustainable raw material used in textiles, construction materials, paints, coatings and more.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Investment Opportunities in Oversold Materials Stocks
- Oversold Stocks Overview: In the materials sector, Stepan Co, H.B. Fuller Company, and International Paper Co have relative strength indices (RSI) near or below 30, indicating these stocks are significantly undervalued and may present buying opportunities for investors.
- Stepan Co Opportunity: As a key player in the materials industry, Stepan Co (NYSE:SCL) is currently in an oversold state, which could attract value-seeking investors, particularly amid increasing market volatility.
- H.B. Fuller Company Analysis: H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE:FUL) is also experiencing overselling, and its low valuation may provide a good entry point for investors, especially given the ongoing demand growth in construction and industrial adhesives.
- International Paper Potential: The oversold condition of International Paper Co (NYSE:IP) in the current market environment may make it an ideal choice for long-term investors, particularly with expectations of a rebound in demand for paper products.
See More
Monday Trading Dynamics of Timber ETF
- Highest Volume Components: On Monday, Weyerhaeuser traded flat with over 2.5 million shares exchanged, indicating stable demand and reflecting investor confidence in the timber sector.
- Smurfit Westrock Performance: The stock declined by approximately 0.6% on a volume exceeding 2.2 million shares, suggesting that despite the slight drop, there remains significant market interest, highlighting investor attention on its future performance.
- International Paper Lagging: International Paper underperformed within the iShares Global Timber & Forestry ETF, with a drop of about 2.9%, potentially signaling market concerns regarding its profitability and competitive position in the timber industry.
- Overall ETF Activity: The ETF's components showed active trading, indicating sustained investor interest in the timber and forestry sector; while individual stock performances varied, the overall increase in trading volume may suggest underlying market confidence in the industry.
See More
US Stocks Plunge as Trade Policy Concerns Emerge
- Market Decline: On Monday, the S&P 500 Index fell by 1.04%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.66%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index decreased by 1.21%, reflecting risk-off sentiment triggered by uncertainty over U.S. trade policy.
- Tariff Increase: President Trump signed an executive order raising global tariffs from 10% to 15%, a move that could curb global economic growth and negatively impact the stock market, particularly as it faces existing pressures.
- AI Risk Impact: A report from Citrini Research detailing potential risks of artificial intelligence on the global economy led to declines in software and payment stocks, with Datadog and Atlassian seeing drops of over 11% and 10%, respectively, indicating market concerns over tech stocks.
- Economic Data Highlights: Despite the stock market downturn, the U.S. January Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose by 0.39 to 0.18, surpassing expectations, suggesting that the economic fundamentals remain strong and may provide support for a future market rebound.
See More
Unexpected Decline in U.S. Containerboard Prices
- Price Decline Impact: U.S. domestic containerboard prices fell by $20 per ton month-over-month, indicating sluggish demand and increased imports of European containerboard, which negatively affects market expectations for box manufacturers and impacts stock performance.
- Significant Industry Contrast: While most U.S. corrugated producers announced a $70-per-ton price increase, JPMorgan's noted decline starkly contrasts with consensus expectations of a $40-$50 increase, highlighting a supply-demand imbalance within the industry.
- Market Reaction: Shares of Smurfit Westrock PLC, International Paper Co., and Packaging Corp Of America dropped over 7% on Monday, reflecting investor concerns about the implications of declining containerboard prices, which may lead to reduced profitability in the future.
- Investor Dynamics: Atlantic Investment Management fully exited its position in Graphic Packaging Holding Company in Q4 2025 for approximately $12.63 million, indicating a cautious stance towards the industry, contributing to a 5.5% drop in GPK shares.
See More
US Stocks Plunge Sharply as Market Risk Sentiment Intensifies
- Market Downtrend: The S&P 500 index fell by 1.20%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.58%, and the Nasdaq 100 index decreased by 1.47%, reflecting a risk-off sentiment triggered by uncertainty over U.S. trade policy.
- Trade Policy Impact: President Trump signed an executive order raising global tariffs from 10% to 15%, a move that may curb global economic growth and exacerbate downward pressure on the markets.
- Software Stocks Under Pressure: Concerns over AI impacts led to a more than 9% drop in CrowdStrike and other software stocks, which not only affected the market capitalization of these companies but also negatively influenced overall market sentiment.
- Economic Data Performance: The U.S. January Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose by 0.39 to 0.18, exceeding expectations and indicating potential improvement in economic activity, yet the market remains cautious ahead of upcoming corporate earnings and economic data releases.
See More
Financial Stocks Plummet While ImmunityBio Soars
- Financial Sector Decline: The financial sector of the S&P 500 fell over 3% during midday trading, with KKR and Blackstone dropping approximately 9% and 7% respectively, indicating investor concerns over alternative asset management and its potential impact on market confidence.
- Cybersecurity Stocks Volatility: The Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) tumbled 4% amid anxiety over artificial intelligence, with CrowdStrike and Zscaler each falling 10%, reflecting market sensitivity to security risks posed by emerging technologies.
- ImmunityBio's Strong Growth: ImmunityBio reported a staggering 700% year-over-year revenue growth and expanded Anktiva approvals for lung cancer, leading to a 12% stock increase, showcasing its strong market potential in the clinical-stage immunotherapy sector.
- Arcellx Acquisition Surge: Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire Arcellx for $7.8 billion, resulting in a 78% stock surge, with the deal expected to close in the second quarter, marking a significant merger activity in the biotech sector.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Oversold Materials Stocks
- Oversold Stocks Overview: In the materials sector, Stepan Co, H.B. Fuller Company, and International Paper Co have relative strength indices (RSI) near or below 30, indicating these stocks are significantly undervalued and may present buying opportunities for investors.
- Stepan Co Opportunity: As a key player in the materials industry, Stepan Co (NYSE:SCL) is currently in an oversold state, which could attract value-seeking investors, particularly amid increasing market volatility.
- H.B. Fuller Company Analysis: H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE:FUL) is also experiencing overselling, and its low valuation may provide a good entry point for investors, especially given the ongoing demand growth in construction and industrial adhesives.
- International Paper Potential: The oversold condition of International Paper Co (NYSE:IP) in the current market environment may make it an ideal choice for long-term investors, particularly with expectations of a rebound in demand for paper products.
See More
Monday Trading Dynamics of Timber ETF
- Highest Volume Components: On Monday, Weyerhaeuser traded flat with over 2.5 million shares exchanged, indicating stable demand and reflecting investor confidence in the timber sector.
- Smurfit Westrock Performance: The stock declined by approximately 0.6% on a volume exceeding 2.2 million shares, suggesting that despite the slight drop, there remains significant market interest, highlighting investor attention on its future performance.
- International Paper Lagging: International Paper underperformed within the iShares Global Timber & Forestry ETF, with a drop of about 2.9%, potentially signaling market concerns regarding its profitability and competitive position in the timber industry.
- Overall ETF Activity: The ETF's components showed active trading, indicating sustained investor interest in the timber and forestry sector; while individual stock performances varied, the overall increase in trading volume may suggest underlying market confidence in the industry.
See More
US Stocks Plunge as Trade Policy Concerns Emerge
- Market Decline: On Monday, the S&P 500 Index fell by 1.04%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.66%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index decreased by 1.21%, reflecting risk-off sentiment triggered by uncertainty over U.S. trade policy.
- Tariff Increase: President Trump signed an executive order raising global tariffs from 10% to 15%, a move that could curb global economic growth and negatively impact the stock market, particularly as it faces existing pressures.
- AI Risk Impact: A report from Citrini Research detailing potential risks of artificial intelligence on the global economy led to declines in software and payment stocks, with Datadog and Atlassian seeing drops of over 11% and 10%, respectively, indicating market concerns over tech stocks.
- Economic Data Highlights: Despite the stock market downturn, the U.S. January Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose by 0.39 to 0.18, surpassing expectations, suggesting that the economic fundamentals remain strong and may provide support for a future market rebound.
See More
Unexpected Decline in U.S. Containerboard Prices
- Price Decline Impact: U.S. domestic containerboard prices fell by $20 per ton month-over-month, indicating sluggish demand and increased imports of European containerboard, which negatively affects market expectations for box manufacturers and impacts stock performance.
- Significant Industry Contrast: While most U.S. corrugated producers announced a $70-per-ton price increase, JPMorgan's noted decline starkly contrasts with consensus expectations of a $40-$50 increase, highlighting a supply-demand imbalance within the industry.
- Market Reaction: Shares of Smurfit Westrock PLC, International Paper Co., and Packaging Corp Of America dropped over 7% on Monday, reflecting investor concerns about the implications of declining containerboard prices, which may lead to reduced profitability in the future.
- Investor Dynamics: Atlantic Investment Management fully exited its position in Graphic Packaging Holding Company in Q4 2025 for approximately $12.63 million, indicating a cautious stance towards the industry, contributing to a 5.5% drop in GPK shares.
See More
US Stocks Plunge Sharply as Market Risk Sentiment Intensifies
- Market Downtrend: The S&P 500 index fell by 1.20%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.58%, and the Nasdaq 100 index decreased by 1.47%, reflecting a risk-off sentiment triggered by uncertainty over U.S. trade policy.
- Trade Policy Impact: President Trump signed an executive order raising global tariffs from 10% to 15%, a move that may curb global economic growth and exacerbate downward pressure on the markets.
- Software Stocks Under Pressure: Concerns over AI impacts led to a more than 9% drop in CrowdStrike and other software stocks, which not only affected the market capitalization of these companies but also negatively influenced overall market sentiment.
- Economic Data Performance: The U.S. January Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose by 0.39 to 0.18, exceeding expectations and indicating potential improvement in economic activity, yet the market remains cautious ahead of upcoming corporate earnings and economic data releases.
See More
Financial Stocks Plummet While ImmunityBio Soars
- Financial Sector Decline: The financial sector of the S&P 500 fell over 3% during midday trading, with KKR and Blackstone dropping approximately 9% and 7% respectively, indicating investor concerns over alternative asset management and its potential impact on market confidence.
- Cybersecurity Stocks Volatility: The Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) tumbled 4% amid anxiety over artificial intelligence, with CrowdStrike and Zscaler each falling 10%, reflecting market sensitivity to security risks posed by emerging technologies.
- ImmunityBio's Strong Growth: ImmunityBio reported a staggering 700% year-over-year revenue growth and expanded Anktiva approvals for lung cancer, leading to a 12% stock increase, showcasing its strong market potential in the clinical-stage immunotherapy sector.
- Arcellx Acquisition Surge: Gilead Sciences agreed to acquire Arcellx for $7.8 billion, resulting in a 78% stock surge, with the deal expected to close in the second quarter, marking a significant merger activity in the biotech sector.
See More
