World Investment Advisors Increases Stock Position in International Paper (NYSE:IP)

World Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of International Paper (NYSE:IP) by 25.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,572 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after buying an additional 2,381 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors’ holdings in International Paper were worth $623,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of IP. SPC Financial Inc. raised its position in International Paper by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. SPC Financial Inc. now owns 14,100 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $759,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of International Paper by 5.7% in the 4th 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 in the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of 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 grew its holdings in shares of International Paper by 14.7% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,601 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the period. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its stake in 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 in the last quarter. 81.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on IP. Truist Financial reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $64.00 target price (down previously from $65.00) on shares of International Paper in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America started coverage on shares of International Paper in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Citigroup began coverage on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $60.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $64.00 price objective on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded International Paper from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, International Paper presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $55.32.

International Paper Stock Down 2.7 %

IP opened at $46.70 on Tuesday. International Paper has a 12 month low of $33.16 and a 12 month high of $60.36. The business has a 50-day moving average of $53.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 0.99.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.02) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03 by ($0.05). International Paper had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 4.75%. On average, research analysts expect that International Paper will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current year.

International Paper Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.4625 per share. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.96%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. International Paper’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 117.83%.

International Paper 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.