International Paper (NYSE:IP) Coverage Initiated at UBS Group

Investment analysts at UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage set a "buy" rating and a $60.00 price target on the basic materials company's stock. UBS Group's price target would suggest a potential upside of 27.39% from the company's previous close.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on International Paper in a report on Thursday, March 20th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $59.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an "underweight" rating and set a $40.00 price target (down from $45.00) on shares of International Paper in a report on Friday, May 9th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of International Paper from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $64.00 price objective on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on International Paper in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $54.54.

International Paper Stock Down 0.4%

IP stock traded down $0.19 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $47.10. 4,506,710 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,585,466. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.66. International Paper has a 12 month low of $41.50 and a 12 month high of $60.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.49. The company has a market capitalization of $24.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 1.04.

International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.35 by ($0.12). The company had revenue of $5.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.38 billion. International Paper had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 4.75%. The business's revenue was up 27.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.17 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that International Paper will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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 now owns 31,525 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,413,896.25. This represents a 19.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.55% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Paper

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of IP. Rise Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of International Paper by 281.3% in the 1st quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 469 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares during the last quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in International Paper in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in International Paper during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Picton Mahoney Asset Management boosted its position in shares of International Paper by 67.0% during the 4th quarter. Picton Mahoney Asset Management now owns 536 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of International Paper by 90.2% in the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 622 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.95% 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.