Excel Formula: Not recognising two cells as equal

In my Excel Spreadsheet, I have the following formula (in column Q):

=IF(AND(I2=P2,I2<>""),"FUNC_FROM",(IF(AND(J2=P2,J2<>""),"PHYS_FROM",(IF(P2="","","NEW_FROM")))))

This is comparing whats's in column P to column I & J. My intented results are:

• If P=I AND I is not null, Q should show FUNC_FROM;


• If P=J AND J is not null, Q should show PHYS_FROM;


• If P is null, Q should be null


• Else Q should show NEW_FROM

My issue is that only the last two bullets seem to be working, my Q column is either populated with NEW_FROM if P is not null, or is left null if P is null. When the value should be PHYS_FROM or FUNC_FROM, I am getting a value of NEW_FROM instead.

After looking into the issue, I have determined that Excel is simply not recognizing the cells as equal when they are so, hence I am getting these results from my formula.

Any ideas on why this is happening?