Clearwater Paper (CLW) vs Mercer International (MERC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Clearwater Paper (CLW) has outperformed Mercer International (MERC) over the past year, losing 2.0% versus a loss of 91.4%. Over five years, CLW leads with a -47.2% price change compared with -97.6% for MERC. Clearwater Paper is the larger company by market cap ($314.7 million vs $16.5 million), about 19.1 times the size.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CLW | MERC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $19.51 | $0.2458 |
| Market cap | $314.65M | $16.47M |
| 1-day change | +0.83% | -1.60% |
| YTD return | +12.13% | -87.59% |
| 1-year return | -1.96% | -91.38% |
| 5-year return | -47.22% | -97.57% |
| EPS (TTM) | $-5.31 | $-7.73 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $23.59 | $2.85 |
| 52-week low | $11.73 | $0.2281 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.30% | -91.38% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +10.20% | +107.49% |
| Average volume | 170.31K | 3.20M |
| Shares outstanding | 16.13M | 67.02M |
| Employees | 1,900 | 3,545 |
| Sector | Basic Materials | Basic Materials |
| Industry | Paper & Paper Products | Paper & Paper Products |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Clearwater Paper is about 19.1 times larger than Mercer International by market value ($314.65M vs $16.47M).
- CLW has outperformed MERC by 89.4 percentage points over the past year.
About Clearwater Paper
CLW stock →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.
Basic Materials · Paper & Paper Products · 1,900 employees
About Mercer International
MERC stock →Mercer International Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) and northern bleached hardwood kraft (NBHK) pulp in the United States, Germany, China, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Pulp and Solid Wood.
Basic Materials · Paper & Paper Products · 3,545 employees
CLW vs MERC FAQ
Which is bigger, Clearwater Paper or Mercer International?
Clearwater Paper (CLW) is larger, with a market capitalization of $314.65M compared with $16.47M for Mercer International (MERC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLW or MERC?
CLW returned -1.96% over the past 12 months, compared with -91.38% for MERC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Clearwater Paper and Mercer International in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Paper & Paper Products industry within the Basic Materials sector.