Xponance Inc. Grows Holdings in International Paper Company (NYSE:IP)

Xponance Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of International Paper Company (NYSE:IP - Free Report) by 54.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 71,072 shares of the basic materials company's stock after acquiring an additional 25,061 shares during the period. Xponance Inc.'s holdings in International Paper were worth $3,792,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of IP. Picton Mahoney Asset Management grew its position in International Paper by 67.0% in the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 536 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the last quarter. Summit Financial LLC boosted its position in shares of International Paper by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 5,437 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust boosted its position in shares of International Paper by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 9,244 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $493,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of International Paper by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,994 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $480,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of International Paper by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,176 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $223,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. 81.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company restated an "underweight" rating and set a $43.00 target price (up from $40.00) on shares of International Paper in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. They set a "buy" rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $64.00 target price on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of International Paper from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, June 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of International Paper in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $59.00 target price on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, International Paper has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $55.65.

International Paper Price Performance

Shares of International Paper stock traded down $0.28 on Thursday, hitting $51.01. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,631,332 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,492,146. International Paper Company has a 52-week low of $43.27 and a 52-week high of $60.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $48.42 and a 200-day moving average price of $50.95. The company has a market capitalization of $26.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.47 and a beta of 1.02.

International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $5.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $6.38 billion. International Paper had a net margin of 1.99% and a return on equity of 4.05%. International Paper's revenue for the quarter was up 27.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.17 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that International Paper Company will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

International Paper Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were issued a $0.4625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 23rd. This represents a $1.85 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.63%. International Paper's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 158.12%.

Insider Transactions at International Paper

In other International Paper news, CAO Holly G. Goughnour sold 7,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.85, for a total value of $336,375.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 31,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,413,896.25. This represents a 19.22% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company's stock.

About International Paper

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.