How might the discussed topics affect the company's valuation multiples?

Impact on valuation multiples

A CEO‑roadshow at a high‑profile Jefferies Industrials conference is a classic catalyst that can shift the market’s pricing of International Paper (IP). If the presentation delivers strong forward‑looking guidance—e.g., higher‑than‑expected 2025 earnings, new margin‑improving initiatives, or a clear growth pipeline in specialty packaging—the equity‑research community will likely raise earnings‑per‑share (EPS) forecasts. An upward revision in the earnings base compresses the denominator of the P/E ratio, while the market’s optimism expands the numerator, leading to a multiple expansion (P/E, EV/EBITDA, EV/FCF). Conversely, if the CEO offers a cautious outlook (e.g., soft demand, higher input‑costs, or a delayed cap‑ex schedule), analysts will trim forecasts, and the multiples will contract as the stock is repriced to reflect lower growth expectations.

Trading implications

From a technical standpoint, the conference day often triggers a pre‑announcement “run‑up” as investors position ahead of the call, followed by a post‑release price swing that mirrors the tone of the remarks. A bullish, forward‑looking speech that upgrades guidance should be met with a buy‑on‑dip if the price temporarily overshoots on the run‑up, targeting a retest of the prior resistance level (e.g., the 200‑day moving average) and a move toward the next upside breakout. If the guidance is muted or negative, a short‑cover‑or‑sell strategy may be warranted, with a stop just above the pre‑conference high to limit downside. In either scenario, monitor the analyst consensus revisions on Bloomberg/FactSet and the EV/EBITDA spread relative to peers (e.g., WestRock, DS Smith). A widening spread in favor of IP signals a premium justified by superior growth, while a narrowing spread flags a potential re‑rating risk.