International Paper (NYSE:IP) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Brokerages

Shares of International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the eight brokerages that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $37.13.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on IP shares. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on International Paper from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $43.00 target price on shares of International Paper in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Citigroup upgraded International Paper from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $36.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 20th. Bank of America upgraded International Paper from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $37.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Argus cut International Paper from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other International Paper news, SVP James P. Jr. Royalty sold 5,800 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.75, for a total value of $201,550.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 69,488 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,414,708. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders have sold a total of 8,800 shares of company stock valued at $310,438 over the last ninety days. 0.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Paper

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Pathstone Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of International Paper during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,164,000. StrategIQ Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in International Paper during the fourth quarter worth $2,271,000. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its holdings in International Paper by 6.7% during the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 21,824 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $774,000 after buying an additional 1,376 shares in the last quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC grew its holdings in International Paper by 40.5% during the third quarter. SteelPeak Wealth LLC now owns 20,935 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $743,000 after buying an additional 6,033 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in International Paper by 70.1% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 207,329 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $7,495,000 after buying an additional 85,429 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.95% of the company's stock.

International Paper Price Performance

Shares of NYSE IP traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $35.38. The company had a trading volume of 14,618,550 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,785,190. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.67. International Paper has a one year low of $29.00 and a one year high of $41.28. The firm has a market cap of $12.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.14 and a beta of 0.99. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $36.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.83.

International Paper (NYSE:IP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.41 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.34 by $0.07. International Paper had a return on equity of 8.87% and a net margin of 1.52%. The company had revenue of $4.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.67 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.87 earnings per share. International Paper's revenue was down 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that International Paper will post 1.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.