International Paper (NYSE:IP) Lowered to “Underperform” Rating by BNP Paribas

International Paper (NYSE:IP) was downgraded by analysts at BNP Paribas from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have a $48.20 price objective on the basic materials company’s stock. BNP Paribas’ target price points to a potential downside of 15.33% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on International Paper from $56.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $61.00 price objective (up previously from $57.00) on shares of International Paper in a report on Friday, November 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of International Paper from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 25th. Finally, Argus upgraded International Paper from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $52.00 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.54.

International Paper Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of International Paper stock opened at $56.93 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $49.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.27. International Paper has a 52-week low of $31.76 and a 52-week high of $59.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.78 billion, a PE ratio of 48.66 and a beta of 1.02.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The basic materials company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.20. International Paper had a net margin of 2.25% and a return on equity of 6.49%. The company had revenue of $4.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that International Paper will post 1.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at International Paper

In related news, SVP Clay R. Ellis sold 9,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.83, for a total value of $439,470.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,832 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,433,296.56. The trade was a 15.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Holly G. Goughnour sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.22, for a total value of $236,100.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 16,788 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $792,729.36. The trade was a 22.95 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 18,840 shares of company stock valued at $910,826. 0.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Paper

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in International Paper during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in International Paper in the third quarter worth $28,000. Innealta Capital LLC purchased a new position in International Paper during the second quarter worth $26,000. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new position in International Paper during the first quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Eastern Bank purchased a new stake in shares of International Paper in the third quarter valued at $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.95% of the company’s stock.

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.