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Upturn AI Summary - About
Clearwater Paper Corporation(CLW)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CLW
09/28/2026: CLW (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Clearwater Paper is a focused manufacturer of private-brand tissue products and bleached paperboard for various industrial applications. The company has a leading position in supplying major North American retailers, which provides stable demand for its tissue segment. Its primary investment story revolves around operational efficiency and strategic deleveraging of its balance sheet. However, investors should be aware of risks including high financial leverage, susceptibility to volatile commodity prices, and intense competition from large, scaled manufacturers. This stock may suit value-oriented investors who can look past near-term volatility and are interested in a pure-play industrial operator, while those seeking dividends should note the company's focus on capital reinvestment.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company operates in a mature industry where growth is typically incremental rather than explosive. |
| Momentum investor | Weak fit | The stock tends to be range-bound based on commodity cycles rather than consistent momentum trends. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | The company often trades at valuations that may attract investors looking for discounted assets in the industrial space. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | Clearwater Paper does not currently pay a dividend to shareholders. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | Price volatility and exposure to commodity cycles make this a higher-risk proposition for conservative portfolios. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | The stock price is heavily influenced by cyclical swings in paper and pulp demand. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Market mispricing during cyclical troughs or peaks can impact short-term returns. |
| Competition risk (scale competitors) | High | Large scale competitors like P&G have significant resources to compete on price and innovation. |
| Business quality | Medium | The business model is steady but limited by the nature of commodity-linked manufacturing. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | The company does not provide a yield, making it unsuitable for income-focused strategies. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Operational success depends on managing high debt loads and input cost inflation. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -38.96% | Avg. Invested days 22 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/28/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 328.04M USD | Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 21.5 |
Price to earnings Ratio - | 1Y Target Price 21.5 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 144.0K shares | Beta 0.22 | 52 Weeks Range 11.73 - 23.59 | Updated Date 09/27/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 11.73 - 23.59 | Updated Date 09/27/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) -5.27 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Products | Tissue, paper towels, and related products for retail private labels. | Revenue comes from people buying store-brand paper products at grocery and retail stores. |
| Pulp and Paperboard | Bleached paperboard for packaging applications. | Revenue comes from selling materials used by other companies to package consumer goods. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE - | Forward PE 10.91 | Enterprise Value 622.51M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.22 |
Enterprise Value 622.51M | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.22 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.41 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 75 | Shares Outstanding 16.13M | Shares Floating 15.56M |
Shares Outstanding 16.13M | Shares Floating 15.56M | ||
Percent Insiders 3.62 | Percent Institutions 90.14 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
About Clearwater Paper Corporation
Exchange NYSE | Headquarters Spokane, WA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2008-12-05 | CEO, President & Director Mr. Arsen S. Kitch | ||
Sector Basic Materials | Industry Paper & Paper Products | Full time employees 1900 | Website https://www.clearwaterpaper.com |
Full time employees 1900 | Website https://www.clearwaterpaper.com | ||
Clearwater Paper Corporation manufactures and supplies solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard packaging products in the United States and internationally. The company offers SBS paperboard for use in folding cartons, food service, and commercial printing items; folding carton paperboards, such as blister, carded packaging, and top sheet products; food service paperboard, including liquid packaging, and cup and plate categories, as well as rigid containers comprising juice, milk, and wine; and custom sheeting and slitting of paperboard products. It serves packaging converters through sales managers. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Spokane, Washington.
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