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IP vs. VMC: International Paper vs. Vulcan Materials Stock Comparison

How do International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC) 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) both fall under the Materials industry group, but IP is classified in Containers & Packaging while VMC is classified in Construction Materials.

Company profile comparison for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
Profile ItemIPVMC
NameInternational Paper Co.Vulcan Materials Company
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorMaterialsMaterials
GICS Industry GroupMaterialsMaterials
GICS IndustryContainers & PackagingConstruction Materials
GICS Sub-IndustryPaper & Plastic Packaging Products & MaterialsConstruction Materials
Market Capitalization18.29 billion USD36.29 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

IP
VMC
GSPC
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC), 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
Total Return (1Y)-2.70%2.25%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.64%12.53%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-2.14%8.08%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

IP
VMC
GSPC
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC), 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)42.71%30.13%
Beta (5Y)0.960.98
Max Drawdown (5Y)-48.61%-32.50%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.09M1.16M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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IP and VMC 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.16-0.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.24-0.09

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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) reports 12.88%, 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%

VMC

Materials industry group

12.88%

Max
52.88%
Q3
19.49%
VMC
12.88%
Median
8.76%
Q1
-3.41%
Min
-32.81%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) reports 13.78%, 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%

VMC

Materials industry group

13.78%

Max
38.66%
Q3
15.98%
VMC
13.78%
Median
5.28%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-20.40%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their net margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both International Paper (IP) at 5.89% and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 23.95% 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%

VMC

Materials industry group

23.95%

Max
66.70%
Q3
28.92%
VMC
23.95%
Median
12.56%
Q1
3.28%
Min
-14.07%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their operating margin against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
ROE (TTM)-22.30%12.88%
ROA (TTM)1.60%5.89%
Net Margin (TTM)-14.32%13.78%
Operating Margin (TTM)5.89%23.95%
Gross Margin (TTM)29.78%27.48%

Growth

Revenue Growth

International Paper (IP) at 49.25% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 7.06% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for IP.

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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 18.39% 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. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
Revenue Growth (YoY)49.25%7.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.75%2.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)-542.68%18.39%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--23.46%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both International Paper (IP) at 0.99 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 1.43 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

IP

Materials industry group

0.99

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

VMC

Materials industry group

1.43

Max
5.96
Q3
3.30
Median
2.24
Q1
1.45
VMC
1.43
Min
0.16
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their current ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both International Paper (IP) at 0.79 and Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.63 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

VMC

Materials industry group

0.63

Max
1.98
Q3
0.89
VMC
0.63
Median
0.47
Q1
0.13
Min
0.00
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.991.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.790.63
Net Debt / EBITDA2.402.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 0.72% 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%

VMC

Materials industry group

0.72%

Max
4.52%
Q3
1.85%
VMC
0.72%
Median
0.38%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): 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 Vulcan Materials (VMC) reports 24.26%, 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%

VMC

Materials industry group

24.26%

Max
83.62%
Q3
41.37%
VMC
24.26%
Median
9.54%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.40%0.72%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)402.17%24.26%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Vulcan Materials (VMC) trades at 33.46 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
--

VMC

Materials industry group

33.46

Max
59.00
VMC
33.46
Q3
32.93
Median
18.82
Q1
11.96
Min
3.93
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): IP does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; VMC is benchmarked against the Materials industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

International Paper (IP) at 0.76 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.53 sits in the pricier quartile — VMC costs more per dollar of sales.

IP

Materials industry group

0.76

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

VMC

Materials industry group

4.53

Max
9.62
VMC
4.53
Q3
4.34
Median
1.87
Q1
0.73
Min
0.00
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

International Paper (IP) at 1.39 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Vulcan Materials (VMC) at 4.31 carries an above-peer premium to book — VMC is pricier on assets.

IP

Materials industry group

1.39

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

VMC

Materials industry group

4.31

Max
6.59
VMC
4.31
Q3
3.55
Median
2.08
Q1
1.26
Min
-0.17
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International Paper (IP) vs. Vulcan Materials (VMC): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Materials industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for International Paper (IP) and Vulcan Materials (VMC)
MetricIPVMC
P/E Ratio (TTM)--33.46
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.764.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.394.31
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)12.53%1.96%