IP
IP
Latest · Mar 31, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 31, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

International Paper Company stock research

International Paper (IP) Free Cash Flow & Quarterly History

Explore International Paper Company (IP) free cash flow from 2023 through the latest reported quarter, with SEC-sourced operating cash flow, capital expenditures, and period-by-period analysis.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

Free cash flow turned positive compared to the prior year period, but declined from the prior quarter. Revenue was stable sequentially while operating cash flow and free cash flow margin decreased.

  • Revenue was flat sequentially; operating cash flow declined and capital expenditure also decreased, leading to lower free cash flow and a lower margin. Versus the year-ago period, all metrics improved with operating cash flow turning positive.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin were lower, while capital expenditure decreased. Compared to the same quarter last year, all metrics improved significantly, with operating cash flow turning from negative to positive.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$553.0M

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$94.0M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$611.0M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$517.0M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

1.6%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

2.8%

TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.

FCF reconciliation

Free cash flow is not a GAAP line item; it should be bridged from the cash flow statement.

Operating cash flow$611.0MCash generated by operations before capital spending.
Capital expenditures$517.0MCapital spending used to bridge CFO to FCF.
Free cash flow$94.0MOperating cash flow less capital spending.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2022-06-30$5.4B$390.0M$186.0M$204.0M3.8%
2022-09-30$5.4B$435.0M$238.0M$197.0M3.6%
2022-12-31$5.1B$761.0M$322.0M$439.0M8.6%
2023-03-31$5.0B$345.0M$341.0M$4.0M0.1%
2023-06-30$4.7B$528.0M$267.0M$261.0M5.6%
2023-09-30$4.6B$468.0M$228.0M$240.0M5.2%
2023-12-31$1.7B$492.0M$305.0M$187.0M10.9%
2024-03-31$3.9B$395.0M$251.0M$144.0M3.7%
2024-06-30$5.4B$365.0M$198.0M$167.0M3.1%
2024-09-30$2.6B$521.0M$212.0M$309.0M12.1%
2024-12-31$3.9B$397.0M$260.0M$137.0M3.5%
2025-03-31$5.3B-$288.0M$330.0M-$618.0M-11.7%
2025-06-30$7.4B$476.0M$422.0M$54.0M0.7%
2025-09-30$5.0B$605.0M$455.0M$150.0M3.0%
2025-12-31$6.0B$905.0M$650.0M$255.0M4.2%
2026-03-31$6.0B$611.0M$517.0M$94.0M1.6%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income156.7%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue8.7%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cashn/aCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Supportive

Operating Cash Flow Recovery

Operating cash flow improved sharply from a negative position a year ago, driven by the absence of significant payments that impacted the prior year period.

This turnaround enabled the company to generate positive free cash flow this quarter.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Revenue was flat sequentially; operating cash flow declined and capital expenditure also decreased, leading to lower free cash flow and a lower margin. Versus the year-ago period, all metrics improved with operating cash flow turning positive.

Compared to the prior quarter, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and free cash flow margin were lower, while capital expenditure decreased. Compared to the same quarter last year, all metrics improved significantly, with operating cash flow turning from negative to positive.

Monitor the relationship between operating cash flow and capital expenditure, as a relatively high capital expenditure weighed on free cash flow.

Valuation context

A cash-flow page should show how much investors are paying for the cash stream, without turning into a full DCF.

Market capitalization$19.4BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield2.8%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCFn/aA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.

IP
IP

International Paper Company

FCF margin

1.6%

FCF yield

2.8%

Risks and tripwires

Observable signals that would weaken the free cash flow thesis.

RiskTripwireWhy it matters
FCF margin compressionFCF margin falls for two consecutive quarters.Cash conversion may be weakening before earnings show it.
Capital intensity risesCapEx/revenue moves materially above the recent run rate.More operating cash flow would be consumed before becoming FCF.
Working capital dragInventory or receivables grow faster than revenue.Reported growth may not translate into cash.