Rayonier Inc. (RYN) Closes PotlatchDeltic Merger, Expands Timberland Footprint

We recently published an article titled 9 Best Lumber Stocks to Invest in Now.

On January 31, Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) announced the closing of its merger with PotlatchDeltic, creating a significantly larger timberland REIT with enhanced scale and diversification. The combined company is initially retaining the Rayonier name and is trading under the ticker “RYN” since February 2, with a new name and ticker symbol expected later in the first quarter of 2026. The merger meaningfully expands Rayonier’s timberland footprint across key softwood regions in the U.S. and New Zealand, strengthening its competitive positioning and long-term asset base.

Earlier, on January 6, Truist lowered its price target on Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) to $26 from $28 while maintaining a Hold rating, citing modestly challenged packaging volumes in early 2026 due to limited promotions. However, the firm noted that beverage cans continue to see growth in North America and Europe, and disciplined supply management should support containerboard price increases. As a timberland REIT headquartered in Wildlight, Florida, Rayonier generates cash flow from both timber and real estate operations, offering investors exposure to hard assets with inflation-hedging characteristics.

With the added scale and operational synergies from the PotlatchDeltic merger, combined with long-term demand drivers in packaging and construction markets, Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) appears well-positioned to benefit from improving pricing dynamics, making it an attractive stock for investors seeking durable asset-backed growth and income potential.

While we acknowledge the potential of RYN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than RYN and that has a 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Up and Coming Streaming Companies and Services and 9 High Growth Canadian Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None.