GEF vs IP

For growth investors, International Paper Company (IP) is the stronger pick with 33.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). Greif, Inc. (GEF) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E (17. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate International Paper Company (IP) a "Buy" — based on 29 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Greif, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 17. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) delivered a total return of +19. 6%, compared to -26. 6% for International Paper Company (IP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GEF returned +153. 7% versus IP's +29. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus International Paper Company's 1. 20β — meaning IP is approximately 85% more volatile than GEF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Greif, Inc. (GEF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 73% for International Paper Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), International Paper Company (IP) is pulling ahead at 33.

7% versus -1. 0% for Greif, Inc. (GEF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Greif, Inc. grew EPS 223. 3% year-over-year, compared to -527. 4% for International Paper Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, IP leads at 5. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 19. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GEF leads at 6. 9% versus -11. 3% for IP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IP leads at 29. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) trades at 17. 3x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for International Paper Company — 4. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for IP: 40. 3% to $46. 40.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

International Paper Company (IP) offers the highest yield at 5. 6%, versus 3. 1% for Greif, Inc. (GEF).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Greif, Inc.

(GEF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 65), 3. 1% yield, +153. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GEF: +153. 7%, IP: +29. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: GEF is a small-cap deep-value stock; IP is a mid-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.