International Paper: Can E-Commerce Growth Offset Pricing Pressures in Containerboard?

International Paper’s fourth-quarter 2024 earnings call provided insights into the company’s current performance and future outlook. Overall, the results were aligned with management’s expectations, while highlighting areas of achievement and challenges going forward. In terms of business operations, the significant development is the closure of the DS Smith transaction, which positions International Paper as a leading entity in sustainable packaging solutions across North America and EMEA. However, this acquisition comes with conditions set by the European Commission, which include the divesting of five box plants. This is seen as a loss yet an opportunity to streamline operations and focus resources on optimal locations, potentially attracting serious interest from buyers looking for prime assets.