Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC Trims Position in International Paper (NYSE:IP)

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of International Paper (NYSE:IP) by 7.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 167,816 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 13,601 shares during the quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC’s holdings in International Paper were worth $9,032,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SPC Financial Inc. grew 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 buying an additional 200 shares during the period. AlphaMark Advisors LLC grew its holdings in International Paper by 5.7% in the fourth quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 3,814 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $205,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares during the period. Inspire Advisors LLC grew its holdings in International Paper by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 12,358 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $665,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in International Paper by 14.7% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,601 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $86,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Paper by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 15,244 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $820,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. 81.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

IP has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Bank of America started coverage on International Paper in a report on Thursday, February 13th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on International Paper in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $59.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com lowered International Paper from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $64.00 target price on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Finally, Citigroup assumed 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 on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $55.32.

International Paper Price Performance

Shares of IP stock opened at $53.40 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $54.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.80. The firm has a market cap of $28.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.01, a P/E/G ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 1.02. International Paper has a 1-year low of $33.16 and a 1-year high of $60.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.08.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that International Paper will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

International Paper Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th were given a $0.4625 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.46%. International Paper’s payout ratio is 117.83%.

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.