Packaging Stocks Lead Today's Decline Amid Ongoing Tariff Issues.

Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst

Source: Barron's

Updated: 6 days ago

0mins

IP+0.97%

PKG+0.13%

SW+1.16%

Should l Buy IP?

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.

Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy

Stop guessing "Should I Buy IP?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.

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: 43.130

Low

36.00

Averages

48.35

High

57.80

Current: 43.130

Low

36.00

Averages

48.35

High

57.80

UBS

Anojja Shah

Buy -> Neutral

downgrade

$51 -> $44

2026-02-02

Reason

UBS

Anojja Shah

Price Target

$51 -> $44

AI Analysis

2026-02-02

downgrade

Buy -> Neutral

Reason

UBS analyst Anojja Shah downgraded International Paper to Neutral from Buy with a price target of $44, down from $51. The firm believes the company's 2026 and 2027 estimates will decline further on "prolonged" transformation costs associated with its cost savings program. International Paper's below-consensus Q1 outlook sets up another back-half loaded year, the analyst tells investors in a research note. UBS says that with Europe entering a "year of footprint actions," the company's cost headwinds look likely to extend into 2027.

Citi

Buy

maintain

$46 -> $47

2026-02-02

Reason

Citi

Price Target

$46 -> $47

2026-02-02

maintain

Buy

Reason

Citi raised the firm's price target on International Paper to $47 from $46 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The company reported a "light" Q4 and fiscal 2026 outlook, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Unlock Full Analyst Thesis， Get the complete breakdown of rating reason for IP

Unlock Now

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.

US Stocks Plunge as Trade Policy Concerns Emerge

5 days agoNASDAQ.COM

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.

Unexpected Decline in U.S. Containerboard Prices

6 days agostocktwits

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.

US Stocks Plunge Sharply as Market Risk Sentiment Intensifies

6 days agoNASDAQ.COM

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.

Financial Stocks Plummet While ImmunityBio Soars

6 days agoCNBC

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.

US Stocks Decline Amid Trade Policy Uncertainty

6 days agoNASDAQ.COM

Market Decline: The S&P 500 Index fell by 0.22%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.24%, and the Nasdaq 100 by 0.66%, reflecting heightened risk-off sentiment due to uncertainty over U.S. trade policy, which may undermine investor confidence.
Tariff Increase Impact: President Trump's executive order raising global tariffs from 10% to 15% could suppress global economic growth, negatively impacting the stock market, particularly in trade-sensitive sectors, as investors reassess risk exposure.
Earnings Outlook: Despite the overall market decline, over 80% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with 74% exceeding expectations, indicating resilience in corporate earnings, and S&P earnings growth is projected to reach 8.4% in Q4.
Economic Data Focus: The market will closely monitor upcoming economic data, including consumer confidence index and initial jobless claims, as these figures will influence the Fed's interest rate decisions, further impacting stock market trends.