International Paper stock holds above $40 as Q2 revenue slips

International Paper (US4601461035) stock is holding slightly above $40 following the company’s latest quarterly update, with investors weighing softer second-quarter revenue against the broader packaging cycle as of August 19, 2026. Recent market data show the shares trading a little above the $40 mark after the company reported lower sales and a shortfall versus analyst forecasts in its most recent quarter 2026 results.

Q2 2026 revenue decline and estimate miss

Recent earnings coverage reports that International Paper generated $6.00 billion in revenue in its latest reported quarter, identified as the company’s second quarter of 2026. This quarterly revenue declined 11.3% year on year compared with the same period a year earlier, underscoring the pressure from weaker demand and pricing in key packaging and paper markets. The $6.00 billion top-line figure also came in 3.3% below the consensus expectation, marking an underperformance versus analysts’ forecasts for the quarter.

The same coverage notes that International Paper had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and the slowest revenue growth within a peer group of comparable packaging companies in that reporting set. For investors, the combination of a double-digit percentage revenue decline and an earnings print below expectations helps explain why sentiment has remained cautious, even as broader equity markets have shown resilience in 2026.

Stock performance around the $40 level

In the days following the earnings release, International Paper stock has stabilized around the low-$40 range. One recent market overview highlights that the stock is down 5.8% since the company reported its latest quarterly results and currently trades at $40.17, showing how the disappointing quarter translated into a mid-single-digit pullback in the share price since the announcement. Another quote snapshot lists the closing price for the shares at $40.99 as of August 19, 2026, with a gain of 2.35% on that specific trading day.

Additional intraday and delayed-quote data show the stock changing hands at $40.88 at the close of regular trading on August 19, 2026, with the price up 2.07% on the day and the company’s market capitalization standing at $21.74 billion based on that level. A separate market-capitalization overview pegs International Paper’s market value at $21.57 billion as of August 2026, confirming that the company continues to rank as a large-cap player within the global packaging and paper industry. Together, these figures suggest that International Paper stock has been trading just above $40 with modest daily fluctuations while remaining well below any historic highs set in prior years.

Valuation and broader context

Valuation data from a major equity-screening and analytics platform indicate that International Paper shares recently closed at $41.05 on the CBOE on August 19, 2026, representing a 2.51% gain over the prior session and a decline of 4.20% compared with the price at the start of 2026. This quantified performance shows that, despite day-to-day volatility, the stock has delivered a mildly negative year-to-date return, broadly in line with the pattern often seen in cyclical industrial names when investors are uncertain about demand and pricing for the upcoming quarters.

From a fundamental perspective, the combination of an 11.3% year-on-year drop in quarterly revenue to $6.00 billion and a 3.3% miss versus consensus expectations puts the spotlight on management’s ability to stabilize volumes and restore growth in the second half of 2026 and into 2027. Packaging and containerboard demand tends to track economic activity, so even modest improvements in industrial production and consumer goods shipments could help International Paper close the gap to its prior-year revenue base. At the same time, persistent pricing pressure or weaker-than-expected demand would risk extending the revenue decline beyond a single quarter.

Packaging and containerboard portfolio

International Paper’s core business centers on the production of containerboard, corrugated packaging, and related paper-based materials used by consumer-goods companies, e-commerce platforms, and industrial customers worldwide. The company’s large network of mills and converting plants allows it to serve a wide range of end markets, from food and beverage packaging to industrial shipping cartons. This scale helps International Paper adjust production levels, shift mix toward higher-value products, and pursue cost efficiencies as demand conditions change, all of which are critical levers as management responds to the revenue decline highlighted in the latest quarter.

International Paper stock and investor takeaway

International Paper stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker IP, with recent market data showing a closing price of $40.88 as of August 19, 2026, on regular trading volume reflective of a large-cap industrial name. Based on that price and a reported market capitalization in the range of $21.6 billion to $21.7 billion as of mid-August 2026, the company occupies a significant position in the global packaging sector. For investors, the key numbers now are the 11.3% year-on-year decline in second-quarter 2026 revenue to $6.00 billion, the 3.3% shortfall versus consensus, and the stock’s modest year-to-date decline of 4.20%, which together frame the balance of risk and opportunity as the company navigates the remainder of 2026.

Fact box

Company: International Paper Co.
ISIN: US4601461035
Ticker: IP
Exchange: NYSE
Price (as of August 19, 2026, 3:59 p.m. ET): $40.88 USD
Market cap: $21.57 billion (as of August 15, 2026)
Sector / Industry: Materials / Paper and packaging