International Paper Buys Major US Paper Mill In $360 Million Deal

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) on Thursday agreed to acquire North Pacific Paper Company (NORPAC) from One Rock Capital Partners for $360 million to expand its packaging footprint on the U.S. West Coast.

NORPAC’s Longview, Washington mill, which produces about one million tons of containerboard annually, is expected to enhance International Paper’s system flexibility, lower costs and support growing demand for recycled packaging.

Management called the deal a “strong strategic fit,” citing NORPAC’s customer base, location and operational capabilities. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.

International Paper reported cash and temporary investments of $1.145 billion as of December 31, 2025.

Technical Analysis

International Paper is currently trading within a 52-week range, with a high of $56.13 and a low of $33.57. The stock is trading 2.7% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA), suggesting a short-term bullish trend, while it remains 9.1% below its 50-day SMA and 15.7% below its 200-day SMA, indicating potential challenges in maintaining momentum over the longer term.

The relative strength index (RSI) is at 47.87, which is neutral and suggests that the stock is not currently overbought or oversold. The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is above its signal line, indicating bullish momentum, with a histogram reflecting positive momentum.

• Key Resistance: $37.00 — This level may act as a barrier for upward movement.
• Key Support: $33.50 — This level is where buying interest may emerge.

International Paper manufactures packaging products and cellulose fibers, accounting for roughly one-third of the North American corrugated packaging market. The company’s recent acquisition of NORPAC is significant as it enhances its ability to serve customers in the growing West Coast region, aligning with its long-term value creation priorities.

Earnings & Analyst Outlook

The countdown is on: International Paper is set to report earnings on April 30, 2026 (confirmed).

• EPS Estimate: 19 cents (Down from 23 cents)
• Revenue Estimate: $6.00 billion (Up from $5.90 billion)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $44.25. Recent analyst moves include:

• Truist Securities: Buy (Lowers Target to $44.00) (April 15)
• Citigroup: Buy (Lowers Target to $44.00) (April 14)
• UBS: Neutral (Lowers Target to $40.00) (April 10)

Top ETF Exposure

• iShares Global Timber & Forestry ETF (NASDAQ:WOOD): 6.01% Weight
• First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF (NASDAQ:FTRI): 4.62% Weight
• Hennessy Stance ESG ETF (NASDAQ:STNC): 3.50% Weight

Significance: Because IP carries significant weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.

Price Action

IP Stock Price Activity: International Paper shares were up 0.41% at $36.66 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo by Jonathan Weiss via Shutterstock