In this article, we will discuss the 8 Best Land and Timber Stocks to Buy Now.
Land and timber stocks have come back to life after wild swings throughout the pandemic. A spike in lumber stocks over the past few years, driven by rising housing prices, has renewed investor sentiment in the sector. Given that Lumber is an important input for homebuilding and home improvement, a spike of $500 to $700 per thousand board feet in 2026 would be more than welcome in the sector.
According to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which measures builder confidence, the market for newly built single-family homes rose to 37 in May 2026 from 34 in April, its lowest level since September 2025.
Amid the three-point improvement, builders’ confidence remains heavily pressured by high mortgage rates, affordability challenges, and economic uncertainty. The cautious outlook began early in the year, when Belco analysts warned that timber supply would remain high, but home affordability issues could crimp it.
“Perhaps the clearest signal (is that) the NAHB Executive Forecast shows no material change in single-family starts projected for 2026 versus 2025,” the Shelton, Washington-based firm reported. “It tells us the industry is not positioning for a surge, it’s planning for steadiness. And steady markets expose inefficiencies far faster than boom cycles do.”
Amid the concerns, the land and timber industry remains an excellent investment opportunity. According to the Realtors Land Institute, historical data on timberland returns show a favorable performance compared to many other investments. Additionally, timberland investment provides a hedge against inflation and supports portfolio diversification.
That said, this article explores some of the best land and timber stocks to buy now.
Our Methodology
To compile the list of the 8 best land and timber stocks to buy now, we reviewed various ETFs, and scanned financial media reports to identify companies in the land and timber industry. We also considered certain wood products companies. We ended up with 12 stocks in our initial list and applied additional filters to pick out the best. We selected stocks that are favored by hedge funds and have at least 10% upside potential. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database as of Q1 2026. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on their price upside potential.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research shows we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).
Best Land and Timber Stocks to Buy Now
8. Mohawk Industries Inc (NYSE:MHK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40
Stock Upside Potential: 10.41%
Mohawk Industries Inc (NYSE:MHK) is a leading name in the flooring industry, supplying products for residential and commercial spaces worldwide. It is one of the best land and timber-adjacent stocks to buy now due to its exposure to wood flooring, laminate, panels, and construction/remodeling demand.
Mohawk Industries Inc (NYSE:MHK) released its Q1 2026 results on April 30, reporting an 8% YoY jump in net sales to $2.7 billion. Adjusted EPS rose to $1.90 from $1.52 in the prior year.
Mohawk CEO Jeff Lorberbaum said the results were in line with expectations, despite the company operating in a challenging business environment. The executive said the results benefited from the steps the company has taken regarding productivity, product mix, and restructuring.
To cope with the high fuel costs, Mohawk is implementing price increases across many of its product categories and geographic markets. At the same time, the company is launching new products to improve its sales and margins. Amid the evolving demand and volatile costs, Mohawk is implementing operational strategies to adapt and control costs.
Despite the market pressures, Mohawk said its backlog has continued to grow. Also, the company’s commercial channel is outperforming the residential channel. Mohawk is anticipating Q2 2026 adjusted EPS in the range of $2.50 to $2.60.
Georgia-based Mohawk Industries Inc (NYSE:MHK) is a flooring manufacturer. Its portfolio includes wood flooring options, including waterproof wood. The company also provides wood-based panels for construction, interior decor, and industrial functions. Mohawk incorporates reclaimed wood in its panels.
7. Rayonier Inc (NYSE:RYN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Stock Upside Potential: 14.89%
Rayonier Inc (NYSE:RYN) is one of the best land and timber stocks to buy now. Following its acquisition of PotlatchDeltic in a transaction that closed on January 30, Rayonier Inc (NYSE:RYN) formed a new business segment called Wood Products. Under this segment, the company manufactures and sells a variety of wood products, including lumber, plywood, and residual materials.
Rayonier’s Q1 2026 results, reported on May 6, showed that this segment generated $108.5 million in revenue and $6.8 million in adjusted EBITDA. Lumber sales accounted for the bulk of revenue in this segment, at $87.2 million, and plywood sales were $21.3 million. Rayonier said it benefited from strong lumber prices, supported by improved supply-demand conditions and seasonal restocking ahead of the spring building season.
Looking ahead, Rayonier expects 2026 lumber shipments to total roughly 1.1 billion board feet. Q1 lumber shipment was 199 million board feet, and Q2 shipment is forecast in the range of 310 to 320 million board feet. The company expects adjusted EBITDA from the Wood Products segment to be higher in Q2 compared to Q1.
Florida-based Rayonier Inc (NYSE:RYN) is a timberland REIT with assets in the US and New Zealand. Its portfolio includes millions of acres of forests across the US. The company’s main business lines include forest management, real estate development, and wood products.
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