Seaport Res Ptn Issues Pessimistic Estimate for IP Earnings

International Paper (NYSE:IP) – Equities researchers at Seaport Res Ptn decreased their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of International Paper in a report released on Monday, March 31st. Seaport Res Ptn analyst M. Weintraub now expects that the basic materials company will earn $0.35 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.38. The consensus estimate for International Paper’s current full-year earnings is $2.77 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for International Paper’s Q3 2025 earnings at $0.87 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.73 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.84 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $1.13 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.00 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $3.70 EPS.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup started coverage on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $60.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut International Paper from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, March 28th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $64.00 price objective on shares of International Paper in a research note on Wednesday, March 26th. Bank of America assumed coverage on International Paper in a report on Thursday, February 13th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Finally, Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $64.00 price target (down from $65.00) on shares of International Paper in a research note on Friday, January 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $55.32.

International Paper Stock Performance

Shares of International Paper stock opened at $53.62 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $28.21 billion, a PE ratio of 34.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. International Paper has a 52 week low of $33.16 and a 52 week high of $60.36. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $54.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $53.83.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03 by ($0.05). International Paper had a return on equity of 4.75% and a net margin of 2.99%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Paper

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in International Paper by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 47,596,595 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,561,651,000 after acquiring an additional 368,648 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in International Paper by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 41,195,085 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $2,217,119,000 after acquiring an additional 340,383 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in International Paper by 68.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 29,904,546 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $1,609,462,000 after acquiring an additional 12,191,361 shares during the period. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of International Paper by 48.9% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 26,559,812 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,429,449,000 after purchasing an additional 8,720,575 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of International Paper by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,393,217 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $450,586,000 after purchasing an additional 24,816 shares during the last quarter. 81.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

International Paper Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.4625 per share. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.45%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. International Paper’s payout ratio is 117.83%.

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.