Should I Buy IP? IP 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy International Paper Co (IP) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Hold

Latest Price

39.000

1 Day change

-6.00%

52 Week Range

57.630

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/26

International Paper Co (IP) is not a strong buy at the moment for a beginner investor with a long-term focus and $50,000-$100,000 available. While there are some positive catalysts, the company's recent financial performance, mixed analyst ratings, and lack of strong trading signals suggest holding off on immediate investment.

Technical Analysis

The MACD is positive and expanding, indicating a bullish trend. RSI is neutral at 58.1, and moving averages are converging, showing no clear directional momentum. The stock closed at $43.04, slightly above the pivot level of $42.636, with resistance at $43.597 and support at $41.676.

Options Data

Bullish

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bullish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

The implied volatility (IV) percentile is high at 94, indicating elevated options activity, but the put-call ratios suggest a neutral to slightly bullish sentiment.

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

The sale of the Global Cellulose Fibers business for $1.5 billion supports the company's restructuring strategy. Analysts expect price increases in containerboard due to disciplined supply management, and beverage cans are expected to grow in North America and Europe.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

The company's Q3 2025 financials show significant declines in net income (-834.67% YoY) and EPS (-597.62% YoY), with gross margin dropping 41.51%. Analysts have lowered price targets, citing industry challenges and excess supply concerns. There is no recent congress trading data or significant insider/hedge fund activity.

Financial Performance

In Q3 2025, revenue increased by 32.78% YoY to $6.22 billion, but net income dropped to -$1.1 billion, and EPS fell to -$2.09. Gross margin also declined significantly to 13.44%.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Analyst ratings are mixed. Truist raised the price target to $50 with a Buy rating, while BofA lowered it to $43 but maintained a Buy. RBC Capital lowered its target to $55 but kept an Outperform rating. JPMorgan and Wells Fargo have more cautious views, with price targets of $46 and $36, respectively.

12 Analyst Rating

Wall Street analysts forecast IP stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for IP is 48.35 USD with a low forecast of 36 USD and a high forecast of 57.8 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.

9 Buy

2 Hold

1 Sell

Moderate Buy

Current: 41.490

Low

Averages

48.35

High

57.8

Current: 41.490

Low

Averages

48.35

High

57.8

Truist

Buy

maintain

$47 -> $50

AI Analysis

2026-01-06

Reason

Truist

Price Target

$47 -> $50

AI Analysis

2026-01-06

maintain

Buy

Reason

Truist raised the firm's price target on International Paper to $50 from $47 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Early 2026 is expected to see modestly challenged packaging volumes due to limited promotions, though some CPGs are successfully driving volume while retaining price gains, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Beverage cans should continue growing in North America and Europe, and containerboard producers are likely to implement price increases successfully thanks to disciplined supply management, the firm says.

BofA

Buy

downgrade

$47 -> $43

2026-01-05

Reason

BofA

Price Target

$47 -> $43

2026-01-05

downgrade

Buy

Reason

BofA lowered the firm's price target on International Paper to $43 from $47 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. International Paper does have several risk factors associated with its 80/20 turnaround and the industry, while M&A and its transformation create muddiness relative to performance and consensus expectations, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm added that it believes its industry price forecasts are above the Street and sees this as a positive catalyst for the shares.

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

Unlock Now

IP Should I Buy

IP Should I Buy

Should You Buy International Paper Co (IP) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

People Also Watch