SLVM vs IP

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

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 4% for Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM). Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) offers the better valuation at 6. 1x trailing P/E (15. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Sylvamo Corporation is actually cheaper at 15.

6x.

Over the past 5 years, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) delivered a total return of +97.

9%, compared to -26. 6% for International Paper Company (IP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLVM returned +97. 9% 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), Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

79β versus International Paper Company's 1. 20β — meaning IP is approximately 53% more volatile than SLVM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, International Paper Company (IP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 73% versus 95% for Sylvamo Corporation — 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. 4% for Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Sylvamo Corporation grew EPS 21. 1% year-over-year, compared to -527. 4% for International Paper Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, SLVM leads at 10. 1% 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.

Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

0% net margin versus -14. 1% for International Paper Company — meaning it keeps 8. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLVM leads at 11. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) trades at 15.

6x forward P/E versus 21. 8x for International Paper Company — 6. 2x 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. 4% for Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Sylvamo Corporation (SLVM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

79), 3. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SLVM: +97. 9%, 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (SLVM (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: SLVM 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.