Top 10 Materials Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

7. International Paper Company (NYSE:IP)

Average Upside Potential as of July 7: 13.78%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 49

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) is one of the top 10 materials stocks to buy according to analysts. On July 1, the company finalized the sale of five European corrugated packaging plants to PALM Group. PALM Group is a Germany-based producer of containerboard, graphic paper, and corrugated packaging.

According to a press release, the sale was a regulatory requirement to address competition concerns arising from the company’s acquisition of DS Smith Plc, a UK-based packaging company, which was completed earlier in 2025. The European Commission mandated the divestiture on January 24, 2025, to ensure compliance with antitrust regulations. The divested plants include three facilities in Normandy, France, one box plant in Ovar, Portugal, and one box plant in Bilbao, Spain.

With the completion of this sale, International Paper has “satisfied all of its obligations towards the European Commission in connection with the acquisition of DS Smith Plc.” On the other hand, PALM Group now has an additional five sites, which means it now operates 33 corrugated box plants across Europe.

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) is a Memphis, Tennessee-based manufacturer of fiber-based packaging and pulp products. It operates through two segments (Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers) and serves markets across North America, Latin America, Europe, and North Africa. The company’s offerings include containerboard, corrugated packaging, and specialty pulps used in personal care and industrial applications.