Zacks Research Has Pessimistic View of IP FY2025 Earnings

International Paper (NYSE:IP) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research dropped their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of International Paper in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, February 12th. Zacks Research analyst M. Das now anticipates that the basic materials company will post earnings per share of $2.70 for the year, down from their previous forecast of $2.74. The consensus estimate for International Paper’s current full-year earnings is $2.89 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for International Paper’s Q4 2025 earnings at $0.81 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $0.97 EPS.

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

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. BNP Paribas lowered shares of International Paper from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and set a $48.20 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of International Paper in a report on Thursday, February 13th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Truist Financial reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $64.00 price target (down from $65.00) on shares of International Paper in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $64.00 price objective on shares of International Paper in a research note on Friday, January 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.88.

International Paper Price Performance

Shares of IP opened at $57.26 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.89 billion, a PE ratio of 36.47 and a beta of 1.02. International Paper has a 52-week low of $33.16 and a 52-week 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 stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $55.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.41.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. First Horizon Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of International Paper by 5.7% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 3,282 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $160,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. SPC Financial Inc. raised its holdings in International Paper by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. SPC Financial Inc. now owns 14,100 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $759,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. AlphaMark Advisors LLC lifted its position in International Paper by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 3,814 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $205,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Paper by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 12,358 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $665,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the period. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of International Paper by 14.7% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,601 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $86,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. 81.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at International Paper

In other International Paper news, Director Kathryn D. Sullivan sold 600 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.39, for a total value of $35,034.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 37,145 shares in the company, valued at $2,168,896.55. This represents a 1.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

International Paper Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be issued a $0.4625 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.85 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.23%. International Paper’s payout ratio is 117.84%.

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.