ITP vs IP

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -12. 4% for IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (ITP). 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.

Over the past 5 years, International Paper Company (IP) delivered a total return of -17.

0%, compared to -95. 8% for IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (ITP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IP returned +38. 1% versus ITP's -98. 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), IT Tech Packaging, Inc.

(ITP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 86β versus International Paper Company's 1. 22β — meaning IP is approximately 42% more volatile than ITP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (ITP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% 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 -12. 4% for IT Tech Packaging, Inc. (ITP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: IT Tech Packaging, Inc. grew EPS 1. 0% 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.

IT Tech Packaging, Inc.

(ITP) is the more profitable company, earning -13. 0% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps -13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ITP leads at -10. 8% 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.

In this comparison, IP (5.

0% yield) pays a dividend. ITP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, International Paper Company (IP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

22), 5. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IP: +38. 1%, ITP: -98. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ITP (Basic Materials) and IP (Consumer Cyclical)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ITP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IP is a mid-cap high-growth stock. IP pays a dividend while ITP does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.