JPMorgan Chase & Co. Issues Pessimistic Forecast for International Paper (NYSE:IP) Stock Price

Key Points

• JPMorgan lowered International Paper’s price target from $62 to $51 while maintaining an “overweight” rating, implying roughly 42% upside from the prior close.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive but mixed: International Paper has a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $45.90, with 10 Buy, three Hold and one Sell rating.
• The company beat third-quarter EPS estimates, but revenue slipped year over year and missed expectations; a $1.13 billion net loss, goodwill impairment and negative free cash flow remain significant concerns.

International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $62.00 to $51.00 in a research report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an "overweight" rating on the basic materials company's stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s price objective suggests a potential upside of 41.94% from the stock's previous close.

Several other brokerages also recently issued reports on IP. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of International Paper from $46.00 to $42.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of International Paper from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Seaport Research Partners reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $46.00 price target on shares of International Paper in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of International Paper from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, October 3rd. Finally, Bank of America restated a "buy" rating on shares of International Paper in a research report on Thursday. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, International Paper has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $45.90.

International Paper Stock Performance

IP traded up $1.45 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $35.93. The company's stock had a trading volume of 7,751,105 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,253,355. The stock has a market cap of $19.03 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.51, a PEG ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $35.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.50. The company has a current ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. International Paper has a twelve month low of $29.26 and a twelve month high of $50.25.

International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.08. International Paper had a negative return on equity of 1.09% and a negative net margin of 14.20%. The company had revenue of $6.20 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.43) EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that International Paper will post 1.26 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP William Hamic sold 24,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.20, for a total value of $1,009,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 106,952 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,406,422.40. This trade represents a 18.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Holly G. Goughnour sold 3,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.96, for a total value of $146,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 34,248 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,437,046.08. This trade represents a 9.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Paper

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Paper during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Ascentis Independent Advisors acquired a new position in International Paper during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN bought a new stake in shares of International Paper during the second quarter worth $31,000. Essential Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Paper during the third quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Paper during the second quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors own 81.95% of the company's stock.

International Paper News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting International Paper this week:

• Positive Sentiment: International Paper reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.37, exceeding the $0.29 analyst consensus. North American Packaging Solutions operating profit more than doubled sequentially to $427 million, and management expects fourth-quarter profit of $460 million to $500 million. IP Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Miss on Lower Volumes
• Positive Sentiment: RBC said International Paper may be “turning the corner,” highlighting the rebound in North American profitability and the company’s operating outlook. The constructive view is helping support the stock after its earnings-driven weakness. International Paper Likely Turning The Corner, RBC Says
• Positive Sentiment: Full-year 2026 guidance calls for North American Packaging Solutions operating profit of $1.3 billion to $1.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $2.27 billion to $2.31 billion, reinforcing expectations for continued improvement in the core business. International Paper Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Truist lowered its price target to $39, but that target remains above the stock’s recent trading level. Analysts therefore see potential upside while maintaining a more cautious valuation view. International Paper Price Target Lowered to $39 at Truist
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue of $6.20 billion missed the $6.28 billion consensus and declined slightly year over year, reflecting lower volumes and weakness in the EMEA business. Free cash flow was negative $267 million. International Paper Q3 Revenue Miss
• Negative Sentiment: The company posted a $1.13 billion net loss, including a $1.38 billion non-cash goodwill impairment tied to Packaging Solutions EMEA. International Paper is preparing to separate that business into an independent DS Smith entity, adding execution uncertainty. International Paper Posts Third-Quarter Net Loss

About International Paper

International Paper NYSE: IP is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and paper products. Its offerings include corrugated packaging and containerboard used to protect and transport goods, as well as absorbent cellulose fibers and other fiber-based materials used in personal care, healthcare, foodservice and industrial applications.

The company serves customers across North America and Europe, with products sold to manufacturers, retailers, consumer-goods companies and other commercial customers.

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