We recently published a list of 7 Best Paper Stocks To Buy Right Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) stands against other best paper stocks to buy right now.

Trends and Challenges in the U.S. Paper Industry

The global paper industry faces challenges from digitalization and environmental concerns but sees growth in packaging and specialty papers. Key trends include a shift to sustainable, recyclable packaging, declining graphic paper demand, eco-friendly production processes, and rising demand in emerging markets.

In 2023, U.S. paper and paperboard capacity decreased by 1.6% to 79.7 million tons, marking a sharper decline compared to the average annual drop of 0.9% since 2014. Paper and paperboard production also saw a significant decrease of 7.2%, with reductions across all categories except tissue.

Since 2012, containerboard has accounted for over 50% of total paper and paperboard capacity, although it saw a slight decline of 0.7% in 2023, remaining near record levels due to prior growth. The printing and writing paper segment experienced a significant decrease, with capacity dropping 5.0% in 2023, now comprising just 12% of total capacity, down from 28% in 2000. Tissue capacity declined year over year by 0.9% in 2023 but has shown an average annual growth rate of 0.4% from 2014 to 2023.

In contrast, packaging paper capacity increased by 4.8% in 2023, driven primarily by growth in unbleached packaging papers. Financially, the U.S. paper manufacturing industry generated approximately $56.39 billion in revenue in 2023, with projections suggesting growth to $57.32 billion by 2032 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.17% from 2024 to 2032. From the start of the year to October 25, the industry is down 0.44%, based on the performance of the timber ETF managed by Blackrock. You can read more about the timber industry’s year-to-date performance in our article on 10 Worst-Performing Industries in 2024.

The forest products industry contributes about 5% of the US manufacturing GDP and employs 925,000 individuals, supporting over 2 million indirect jobs. Read more at 11 Best Paper Stocks to Buy Now.

Sustainability trends are shaping the pulp and paper industry, with companies adopting responsible forestry practices and increasing the use of recycled fiber to meet stakeholder expectations. According to McKinsey, 55% of American consumers are concerned about the environmental impact of paper products, highlighting the importance of circularity in addressing these issues.

In the foreseeable future, there will likely be an increase in the overall consumption of wood products. The entire use of wood products is expected to increase in 2060 compared to 2010, according to a report released by the science-based non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists. Interestingly, the pulp and paper industry is expected to account for the majority of the anticipated rise in the use of wood products by 2060.

READ ALSO: 10 Best Land and Timber Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 15 Best Lumber Stocks to Buy Now.

Our Methodology 

For our methodology, we selected stocks from the timber-industry-tracking ETF managed by Blackrock and ranked the best paper stocks to buy right now based on their total number of hedge fund holders as of Q2 2024.

“Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).”

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44 

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products. The company transforms renewable resources into essential items that people rely on daily, including corrugated packaging for shipping and retail, pulp for diapers and personal care products, and paper for various applications.

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) reported Q2 2024 revenue of $4.73 billion, slightly below Wall Street estimates but up 1.11% year-over-year, driven by improved pricing, higher exports, and relatively favorable market conditions in its Industrial Packaging segment. While the Global Cellulose Fiber segment remained stable despite fluctuating demand, investor interest has declined following the failure of a potential acquisition by Suzano, as investors had hoped for a significant premium.

However, International Paper is in the process of acquiring UK-based DS Smith, expected to enhance operational capabilities and market presence. The company has a solid foundation and a promising future, focusing on customer-driven strategies, cost optimization, and team alignment for long-term success.

Diamond Hill Select Strategy stated the following regarding International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) in its Q2 2024 investor letter:

“Other top individual contributors in the quarter included Coherent and new holding International Paper Company (NYSE:IP). International Paper is one of the US’s largest manufacturers of containerboards, which is used to make corrugated boxes and other packaging materials. We expect that as the demand environment improves and the company focuses on its commercial execution, it will be able to improve profitability and bring operating margins back to normalized levels. Given what we view as an attractive valuation for a high-quality company, we capitalized on the opportunity to initiate a position in Q2. Shares subsequently rallied after reports that Brazilian company Suzano is interested in acquiring the company.”

Overall, IP ranks 1st on our list of best paper stocks to buy right now. While we acknowledge the potential of paper companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than IP but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.