Should You Buy Clearwater Paper Corp (CLW) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.
Analysis Updated At
2026/01/28
CLW is not a good buy right now for a beginner long-term investor who is impatient for results. The stock is in a clear downtrend (bearish moving averages and weakening MACD), fundamentals recently deteriorated sharply (2025/Q3 loss and margin compression), and insiders have been selling aggressively. While the Truist $21 Hold target implies upside from $17.29 and options positioning is call-heavy, the current setup looks more like a high-risk turnaround/speculative bounce than a stable long-term entry. If you already own it: hold at most into the next earnings catalyst (2026-02-12) only if you can tolerate continued weakness; if you do not own it: do not buy now.
Technical Analysis
Trend is bearish. The moving averages are stacked negatively (SMA_200 > SMA_20 > SMA_5), indicating sustained downside momentum. MACD histogram is -0.282 and negatively expanding, which suggests bearish momentum is strengthening rather than stabilizing. RSI(6) at 23.64 is oversold, which can support a short-lived bounce, but oversold conditions in a strong downtrend often fail without a catalyst. Price $17.29 is below S1 (17.539) and closer to the next support S2 (16.699). Key upside hurdles: pivot/resistance around 18.899, then 20.259. Pattern-based odds provided show a negative medium-term skew (next month -9.04%), which aligns with the broader bearish technical picture.
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Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends
Recent analyst activity: On 2026-01-20, Truist initiated coverage at Hold with a $21 price target. That target is above the current price ($17.29), implying upside, but the Hold rating signals limited conviction in near-term outperformance. Wall Street-style pros: potential operating leverage if demand normalizes, structural supply/import dynamics could improve conditions, low leverage, and possible acquisition appeal. Cons: current profitability/margins are weak, the stock is trending down technically, and there is no clear near-term catalyst beyond earnings to force a rerating. Politician/congress activity: no recent congress trading data available.
Wall Street analysts forecast CLW stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CLW is 27.5 USD with a low forecast of 25 USD and a high forecast of 30 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
Wall Street analysts forecast CLW stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for CLW is 27.5 USD with a low forecast of 25 USD and a high forecast of 30 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
Current: 17.340
Current: 17.340
