International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) Receives $50.44 Average Target Price from Analysts

Shares of International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the fourteen research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $50.4364.

Several brokerages recently weighed in on IP. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on International Paper from $61.00 to $57.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 31st. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of International Paper from a “strong sell” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $44.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $57.80 target price on shares of International Paper and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of International Paper from $48.00 to $46.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn downgraded shares of International Paper from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th.

International Paper Stock Performance

International Paper stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $38.89. 285,723 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,823,451. International Paper has a 12-month low of $35.56 and a 12-month high of $60.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.31. The stock has a market cap of $20.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -14.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.09. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $40.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $45.69.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.43) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53 by ($0.96). International Paper had a negative net margin of 5.45% and a negative return on equity of 0.16%. The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.33 earnings per share. International Paper’s quarterly revenue was up 56.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that International Paper will post 2.77 EPS for the current year.

International Paper Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $0.4625 dividend. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.8%. International Paper’s dividend payout ratio is currently -70.88%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other International Paper news, SVP Clay R. Ellis sold 18,819 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.85, for a total value of $693,480.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.55% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Paper

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP boosted its holdings in International Paper by 63.3% during the third quarter. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP now owns 107,714 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $4,998,000 after buying an additional 41,746 shares in the last quarter. Saranac Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of International Paper during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $112,000. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of International Paper by 9.6% during the 3rd quarter. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd now owns 152,684 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $7,085,000 after acquiring an additional 13,333 shares during the period. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in shares of International Paper during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of International Paper by 7.0% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 6,639 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 437 shares during the period. 81.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

International Paper Company Profile

International Paper Company produces and sells renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products in North America, Latin America, Europe, and North Africa. It operates through two segments, Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers. The company offers linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium and saturating kraft; and pulp for a range of applications, such as diapers, towel and tissue products, feminine care, incontinence, and other personal care products, as well as specialty pulps for use in textiles, construction materials, paints, coatings, and others.