Tearsheet

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 42%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 38%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -99%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -125%
Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -4.1 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -0.3%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 49%
  Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 94%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Circular Economy & Recycling, Sustainable Resource Management, and Sustainable Consumption. Themes include Sustainable Packaging Materials, Show more.
  Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is 0.3%
3   Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -1.8%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -8.7%
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 42%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 38%
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 49%
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Circular Economy & Recycling, Sustainable Resource Management, and Sustainable Consumption. Themes include Sustainable Packaging Materials, Show more.
3 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -99%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -125%
4 Not profitable at operating income level
Op Inc LTMOperating Income, Last Twelve Months is -4.1 Mil, Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is -0.3%
5 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 94%
6 Weak revenue growth
Rev Chg 3Y AvgRevenue Change % averaged over trailing 3 years is 0.3%
7 Not cash flow generative
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -1.8%, FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -8.7%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

CLW Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are the key points explaining the stock movement for Clearwater Paper (CLW) for the approximate time period from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025: 1. Significant Net Loss in Third Quarter 2025.
Clearwater Paper reported a net loss of $53 million, or $3.30 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025. This was a substantial decline compared to a net income of $6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2024. 2. Substantial Non-Cash Goodwill Impairment Charge.
The company's considerable net loss in Q3 2025 was primarily due to a $48 million ($45 million after tax) non-cash goodwill impairment charge. This impairment was attributed to a decrease in Clearwater Paper's market capitalization relative to an increase in book value, which was driven by the divestiture of its Tissue business in late 2024.

Show more

Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
CLW Return77%-3%3%-4%-18%-40%-17%
Peers Return3%-7%-17%-16%17%-47%-58%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
CLW Win Rate58%58%42%58%58%30% 
Peers Win Rate37%43%43%47%52%30% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
CLW Max Drawdown-37%-27%-30%-22%-32%-44% 
Peers Max Drawdown-38%-20%-42%-34%-30%-60% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: MERC, SLVM, MAGN, CLW, ITP.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventCLWS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-41.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven71.9%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven123 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-54.5%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven119.8%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven54 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-78.8%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven372.4%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-72.4%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven262.3%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven77 days1480 days

Compare to MERC, SLVM, MAGN, CLW, ITP


In The Past

Clearwater Paper's stock fell -41.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 2/12/2021. A -41.8% loss requires a 71.9% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Clearwater Paper (CLW)

Better Bets than Clearwater Paper (CLW)

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to CLW. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
DD_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025DDDuPont de NemoursDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
3.1%3.1%-0.2%
CF_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025CFCF IndustriesMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
0.5%0.5%-1.1%
HL_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025HLHecla MiningQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
30.9%30.9%0.0%
CDE_11072025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11072025CDECoeur MiningDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
12.7%12.7%-5.7%
ATR_10312025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10312025ATRAptarGroupDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%-2.5%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
DD_11212025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG11212025DDDuPont de NemoursDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
3.1%3.1%-0.2%
CF_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025CFCF IndustriesMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
0.5%0.5%-1.1%
HL_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025HLHecla MiningQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
30.9%30.9%0.0%
CDE_11072025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11072025CDECoeur MiningDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
12.7%12.7%-5.7%
ATR_10312025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10312025ATRAptarGroupDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%-2.5%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Clearwater Paper

Peers to compare with:

Financials

CLWMERCSLVMMAGNITPMedian
NameClearwat.Mercer I.Sylvamo Magnera IT Tech . 
Mkt Price18.161.9248.1913.980.2413.98
Mkt Cap0.30.11.90.50.00.3
Rev LTM1,5561,9073,4312,697781,907
Op Inc LTM-4-6927667-10-4
FCF LTM-135-62106-414-41
FCF 3Y Avg-0-104211-37-0-0
CFO LTM-283433819419
CFO 3Y Avg92114304811

Growth & Margins

CLWMERCSLVMMAGNITPMedian
NameClearwat.Mercer I.Sylvamo Magnera IT Tech . 
Rev Chg LTM23.0%-5.8%-8.9%106.4%12.3%12.3%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg0.3%-4.9%-0.3%34.5%-15.0%-0.3%
Rev Chg Q1.4%-8.8%-12.3%154.7%-5.5%-5.5%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM0.4%-2.3%-3.4%23.3%-1.8%-1.8%
Op Mgn LTM-0.3%-3.6%8.0%2.5%-13.1%-0.3%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg2.3%-2.6%10.6%1.9%-9.5%1.9%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.4%-4.0%-1.1%0.3%-3.1%-1.1%
CFO/Rev LTM-1.8%1.8%9.9%0.7%4.9%1.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg8.6%0.6%11.8%0.1%9.7%8.6%
FCF/Rev LTM-8.7%-3.2%3.1%-1.5%4.5%-1.5%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg1.3%-5.1%5.7%-2.1%-1.4%-1.4%

Valuation

CLWMERCSLVMMAGNITPMedian
NameClearwat.Mercer I.Sylvamo Magnera IT Tech . 
Mkt Cap0.30.11.90.50.00.3
P/S0.20.10.50.20.00.2
P/EBIT-4.5-2.76.0-13.8-0.2-2.7
P/E2.4-1.19.8-3.2-0.2-0.2
P/CFO-12.15.75.222.50.65.2
Total Yield42.4%-79.0%14.4%227.1%-515.7%14.4%
Dividend Yield0.0%10.4%4.2%258.3%0.0%4.2%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-5.2%-26.4%9.4%-26.6%-40.8%-26.4%
D/E1.08.10.54.84.64.6
Net D/E0.97.60.44.11.71.7

Returns

CLWMERCSLVMMAGNITPMedian
NameClearwat.Mercer I.Sylvamo Magnera IT Tech . 
1M Rtn0.3%0.5%22.8%58.5%0.7%0.7%
3M Rtn-15.4%-38.9%10.4%20.4%16.8%10.4%
6M Rtn-38.7%-47.4%-7.6%14.1%27.3%-7.6%
12M Rtn-32.6%-67.6%-45.8%-30.1%5.1%-32.6%
3Y Rtn-53.7%-84.7%-5.3%-69.7%-61.6%-61.6%
1M Excs Rtn0.3%0.6%22.8%58.5%0.7%0.7%
3M Excs Rtn-22.5%-45.2%3.7%11.7%15.6%3.7%
6M Excs Rtn-53.4%-62.1%-22.3%-0.6%12.5%-22.3%
12M Excs Rtn-46.6%-81.7%-59.6%-45.3%-10.7%-46.6%
3Y Excs Rtn-124.5%-157.5%-71.2%-143.9%-132.6%-132.6%

Financials

Segment Financials

Assets by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Consumer Products9179519861,0801,147
Pulp and Paperboard666642621615652
Corporate and eliminations89 8310678
Corporate 111   
Total1,6721,7041,6901,8001,878


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity707,491
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-1.3%
Average Daily Volume168,026
Days-to-Cover Short Interest4.21
Basic Shares Quantity16,142,000
Short % of Basic Shares4.4%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251028202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025729202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025429202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024224202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241104202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024806202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024429202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023220202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231030202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023801202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023502202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022214202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221031202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022802202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022428202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021215202210-K 12/31/2021