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IP vs. STLD: International Paper vs. Steel Dynamics Stock Comparison

How do International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD) both fall under the Materials industry group, but IP is classified in Containers & Packaging while STLD is classified in Metals & Mining.

Company profile comparison for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
Profile ItemIPSTLD
NameInternational Paper Co.Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingMetals & Mining
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsSteel
Market Capitalization18.29 billion USD31.70 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962November 22, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IP
STLD
GSPC
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
Total Return (1Y)-2.70%52.02%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.64%29.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.14%30.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IP
STLD
GSPC
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.71%36.62%
Beta (5Y)0.961.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.61%-32.20%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.09M1.06M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IP and STLD are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.161.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.241.92

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

International Paper (IP) reports a negative ROE of -22.30%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 20.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IP

Materials industry group

-22.30%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
IP
-22.30%
Min
-32.81%

STLD

Materials industry group

20.81%

Max
52.88%
STLD
20.81%
Q3
19.49%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their ROE against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

International Paper (IP) reports a negative net margin of -14.32%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 8.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IP

Materials industry group

-14.32%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
IP
-14.32%
Min
-20.40%

STLD

Materials industry group

8.82%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
STLD
8.82%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both International Paper (IP) at 5.89% and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 15.46% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

IP

Materials industry group

5.89%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
Median
12.56%
IP
5.89%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.46%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
STLD
15.46%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
ROE (TTM)-22.30%20.81%
ROA (TTM)1.60%9.45%
Net Margin (TTM)-14.32%8.82%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.89%15.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.78%15.90%

Growth

Revenue Growth

International Paper (IP) at 49.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.63% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for IP.

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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at -18.80% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while International Paper (IP) at -542.68% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
Revenue Growth (YoY)49.25%3.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.75%-6.53%
EPS Growth (YoY)-542.68%-18.80%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---27.45%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.15 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while International Paper (IP) at 0.99 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for IP.

IP

Materials industry group

0.99

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
IP
0.99
Min
0.16

STLD

Materials industry group

3.15

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
STLD
3.15
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
Min
0.16
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both International Paper (IP) at 0.79 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.45 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

IP

Materials industry group

0.79

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
IP
0.79
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00

STLD

Materials industry group

0.45

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
Median
0.47
STLD
0.45
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.993.15
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.790.45
Net Debt / EBITDA2.401.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 0.94% pays an industry-typical yield; International Paper (IP) at 5.40% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

IP

Materials industry group

5.40%

IP
5.40%
Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

STLD

Materials industry group

0.94%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
STLD
0.94%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

International Paper (IP) reports payout ratio above 100% at 402.17%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Steel Dynamics (STLD) reports 15.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.

IP

Materials industry group

402.17%

IP
402.17%
Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

STLD

Materials industry group

15.44%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
STLD
15.44%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.40%0.94%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)402.17%15.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Steel Dynamics (STLD) trades at 16.46 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while International Paper (IP) has no P/E ratio this period.

IP

Materials industry group

--

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
IP
--

STLD

Materials industry group

16.46

Max
59.00
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
STLD
16.46
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): IP does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; STLD is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both International Paper (IP) at 0.76 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 1.43 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

IP

Materials industry group

0.76

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
IP
0.76
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00

STLD

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
9.62
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
STLD
1.43
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both International Paper (IP) at 1.39 and Steel Dynamics (STLD) at 3.23 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

IP

Materials industry group

1.39

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
IP
1.39
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17

STLD

Materials industry group

3.23

Max
6.59
Q3
3.55
STLD
3.23
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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International Paper (IP) vs. Steel Dynamics (STLD): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for International Paper (IP) and Steel Dynamics (STLD)
MetricIPSTLD
P/E Ratio (TTM)--16.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.761.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.393.23
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)12.53%1.36%