Citigroup Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for International Paper (NYSE:IP) Stock

International Paper (NYSE:IP) had its target price hoisted by stock analysts at Citigroup from $46.00 to $47.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage presently has a “buy” rating on the basic materials company’s stock. Citigroup’s price objective points to a potential upside of 16.77% from the company’s current price.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of International Paper from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, October 18th. Argus lowered their price objective on International Paper from $55.00 to $50.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Truist Financial reduced their target price on International Paper from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday. BNP Paribas Exane raised International Paper from a “strong sell” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $44.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of International Paper from $53.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $49.53.

International Paper Trading Up 3.2%

Shares of NYSE IP opened at $40.25 on Friday. International Paper has a 1 year low of $35.56 and a 1 year high of $58.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $40.23 and a 200 day moving average of $44.08. The stock has a market cap of $21.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.04.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The basic materials company reported ($0.08) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.28 by ($0.36). The company had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.90 billion. International Paper had a negative return on equity of 0.35% and a negative net margin of 14.12%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 53.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned ($0.02) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that International Paper will post 2.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at International Paper

In other news, CEO Andrew K. Silvernail purchased 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $39.98 per share, with a total value of $1,999,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer directly owned 50,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,999,000. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Clay R. Ellis sold 18,819 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.85, for a total transaction of $693,480.15. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Paper

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in IP. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new position in shares of International Paper in the 1st quarter worth approximately $249,000. Intech Investment Management LLC increased its position in International Paper by 100.5% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 32,025 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,709,000 after acquiring an additional 16,055 shares during the last quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. raised its stake in shares of International Paper by 47.6% in the second quarter. ASR Vermogensbeheer N.V. now owns 38,054 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,782,000 after acquiring an additional 12,264 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of International Paper by 22.5% in the 2nd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 81,356 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $3,810,000 after acquiring an additional 14,966 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hilltop National Bank purchased a new position in shares of International Paper during the second quarter valued at approximately $132,000. 81.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting International Paper

Here are the key news stories impacting International Paper this week:

• Positive Sentiment: CEO insider buy: CEO Andrew K. Silvernail purchased 50,000 shares at ~$39.98 (~$2.0M), signaling management confidence and providing a bullish technical/psychological catalyst. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: 2026 guidance: Company set adjusted EBITDA targets of $3.5–$3.7B for full year and Q1 adj. EBITDA of $0.74–$0.76B, implying operational improvement and cash‑flow recovery potential. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Planned split into two companies: IP will separate into a North American company and a separate EMEA packaging company to sharpen regional focus — a strategic move that could unlock value long term but creates near‑term execution and transition risk. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst moves mixed: Truist trimmed its price target to $48 but kept a “buy” rating (still implies upside), while Wells Fargo upgraded IP to “equal weight” with a $40 target — these actions temper/recast expectations rather than dramatically change the investment thesis. Read More. | Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 earnings miss and large impairment: Reported Q4 EPS of ($0.08) vs. $0.28 expected; company recorded a $2.47B pre‑tax goodwill impairment plus accelerated depreciation and restructuring charges, producing a large GAAP loss and weighing on near‑term profitability and multiples. Revenue rose ~53% (beat) but the impairment and margin impact drove a negative market reaction. Read More.

About International Paper

International Paper is a global producer of renewable fiber-based products, focused primarily on pulp, paper, and packaging. The company manufactures containerboard and corrugated packaging used for shipping and retail display, as well as a range of specialty papers and pulp products that serve industrial, consumer goods, and e-commerce customers. Its product portfolio is oriented toward large-scale packaging solutions, tissue and paper grades, and raw pulp for a variety of manufacturing uses.

Founded in 1898, International Paper is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and is one of the largest and longest-established companies in the forest products sector.