International Paper Hits 52-Week Low, CAO Sold Near Top
International Paper stock fell to 52-week lows in the days following Chief Accounting Officer Holly G. Goughnour's open-market sale of 3,500 shares at $41.96, with a Form 144 now proposing 24,500 addi
International Paper Hits 52-Week Low as CAO Sells Near Peak
NEW YORK, August 8 —
International Paper Company (IP) stock fell to 52-week lows this week, days after its Chief Accounting Officer sold $147,000 in shares at $41.96. A freshly filed Form 144 signals a proposed additional 24,500-share sale into a top line already down 11.3% year-over-year, and Iran-war cost shocks add fresh pressure.
- Q2 net sales fell 11.3% to $6 billion, missing estimates; stock fell 5.3% on July 31.
- CAO Holly Goughnour sold 3,500 shares at $41.96 on August 4; Form 144 proposes 24,500 more.
- Trailing FCF of $1.6 billion but $9.9 billion in total debt; 17.8% of float sold short.
The Selling Pattern
Holly G. Goughnour, VP and Chief Accounting Officer, sold 3,500 shares open-market at $41.96 on August 4. Within days the stock hit 52-week lows, and a Form 144 now signals a proposed additional 24,500-share sale. The accounting officer is the executive closest to the numbers; selling near what turned out to be a local high carries weight. IP carries $9.9 billion in total debt against $730 million in cash, and short interest at 17.8% of float shows a market that already sees the leverage asymmetry clearly. The analyst consensus price target is $47.45, implying 14% upside, but that assumes the top line stabilizes.
A Box Business Under Dual Pressure
International Paper, founded in 1898, employs 62,602 people and makes linerboard, corrugated boxes, bulk bins, and specialty packaging for food and beverage, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods customers across North America, Europe, and Latin America. Q2 2026 net sales of $6 billion fell 11.3% from the year-ago quarter and missed Street estimates, per IP's SEC 8-K; trailing twelve-month revenue of $24.2 billion is already down 2.2% annually. The Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz, affecting roughly 20% of world oil supply and pushing U.S. crude near $85 per barrel, prompting IP to raise prices to offset higher commodity and transportation costs into a market already buying less.
| Ticker | Mkt cap | Fwd P/E | 52-wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP | $22.0B | 14.1x | -11.8% |
| DD | $19.2B | 17.9x | +62.4% |
| WY | $18.4B | 37.9x | +1.2% |
| KMB | $36.4B | 14.7x | -18.2% |
| HON | $78.0B | 24.7x | +15.1% |
| PKG | $22.8B | 20.2x | +30.2% |
Free Cash Flow's Limited Defense
Two consecutive EPS beats, including a 210.9% positive surprise in the most recent quarter, alongside $1.6 billion in trailing free cash flow argue against outright collapse. The stock's one-year loss of 23.9% against a 17.7% S&P 500 gain already prices in significant pain. The question is whether IP's price increases stick without further volume loss. At 14.1x forward earnings, the stock looks cheap if Q3 2026 revenue stabilizes and the EPS trajectory holds; if volume erodes while $9.9 billion in debt weighs, the 52-week low is a stop along the way, not the destination. Stress-test the assumptions through the DCF calculator, or run the free International Paper Company deep-dive at /stock/ip.
Basis Report is independent research for informational purposes. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is International Paper stock falling in 2026?
International Paper stock hit 52-week lows in August 2026, down 23.9% over the past year against a 17.7% S&P 500 gain. Q2 2026 net sales fell 11.3% to $6 billion, missing Street estimates, and the Iran war's disruption of commodity supply chains raised transportation and input costs into a market already buying less.
Did International Paper insiders sell shares recently?
Chief Accounting Officer Holly G. Goughnour sold 3,500 shares at $41.96 on August 4, generating approximately $147,000. A Form 144 filed shortly after proposes an additional 24,500-share sale, signaling that selling pressure from inside the company has not stopped.
What is International Paper's total debt?
International Paper carries $9.9 billion in total debt against $730 million in cash. Short interest stands at 17.8% of float, reflecting a market that already prices in the leverage asymmetry clearly.
What happened to International Paper Q2 2026 revenue?
Q2 2026 net sales fell 11.3% year-over-year to $6 billion, missing Street estimates. The Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz, affecting roughly 20% of world oil supply and pushing U.S. crude near $85 per barrel, prompting International Paper to raise prices to offset higher commodity and transportation costs.
What is the analyst price target for International Paper?
The consensus analyst price target is $47.45, implying approximately 14% upside from recent levels. That assumes top-line revenue stabilizes. At 14.1x forward earnings the stock looks cheap if volume holds, but with $9.9 billion in total debt, further volume erosion shifts the calculus considerably.
International Paper stock fell to 52-week lows this week, days after its Chief Accounting Officer sold $147,000 in shares near a local high—a move that followed a Q2 earnings report showing net sales declined 11.3% year-over-year and missed Street estimates, while a freshly filed Form 144 signals a proposed additional sale of 24,500 shares.