Form 4: International Paper Officer Receives RSU Award

International Paper's VP & Chief Accounting Officer, Holly G. Goughnour, was granted 3,885 restricted stock units effective January 1, 2026.

Summary

• Holly G. Goughnour, VP & Chief Accounting Officer of International Paper Company, was granted 3,885 restricted stock units (RSUs) on January 1, 2026.
• These RSUs will vest in three equal installments on February 1, 2027, February 1, 2028, and February 1, 2029.
• Following this transaction, Goughnour beneficially owns 35,410 shares of common stock directly and 6,964 shares indirectly through the International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan.
• Additionally, Goughnour holds 6,632 common stock units in the non-funded International Paper Company Deferred Compensation Savings Plan, which will be settled in cash upon termination of employment.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The grant of restricted stock units to a key executive is a positive signal for management alignment and retention, reflecting standard compensation practices. It's not a major market-moving event but indicates stability in executive incentives.

Positives

• The grant of 3,885 restricted stock units aligns management's interests with shareholders, incentivizing long-term performance.
• The vesting schedule over three years promotes retention of a key executive.

Negatives

• No specific negatives are identified in this filing.

Risks

• No specific risks are mentioned in this filing.

Future Outlook

The reporting person's future compensation includes restricted stock units that will vest in three annual installments beginning February 1, 2027, through February 1, 2029, linking future compensation to company performance over this period.

Industry Context

This type of executive compensation, involving restricted stock unit grants with multi-year vesting schedules, is a standard practice across many industries, including the paper and packaging sector, to incentivize long-term performance and retain key talent.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The use of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as a component of executive compensation is a common practice among large publicly traded companies, including peers in the paper and packaging industry such as WestRock (WRK) and Packaging Corporation of America (PKG).
• Multi-year vesting schedules, like the three-year schedule for these RSUs, are typical for aligning executive incentives with long-term shareholder value creation, consistent with corporate governance best practices.

Related Party Transactions

• Holdings in the International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan and Deferred Compensation Savings Plan represent standard employee benefit arrangements.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The RSU grant aligns executive interests with shareholder value creation over the long term.
• Employees: The filing details executive compensation, which is part of the broader employee compensation structure.

Next Steps

• The restricted stock units will vest in three equal installments on February 1, 2027, February 1, 2028, and February 1, 2029.

Key Dates

Recommendation

This Form 4 filing reports a routine executive compensation event (RSU grant) and does not contain information that would fundamentally alter the investment thesis for International Paper. It reinforces management's long-term alignment but is not a catalyst for a significant change in stock recommendation.

Keywords

International Paper, IP, Form 4, Restricted Stock Units, RSU, Insider Transaction, Executive Compensation, Holly G. Goughnour, Stock Grant