Zacks Research Issues Negative Forecast for IP Earnings

International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q2 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of International Paper in a report issued on Thursday, November 13th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the basic materials company will post earnings per share of $0.62 for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.73. Zacks Research has a “Strong Sell” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for International Paper’s current full-year earnings is $2.77 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for International Paper’s Q3 2026 earnings at $0.67 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.76 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.01 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $4.14 EPS.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.43) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.96). The company had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.76 billion. International Paper had a positive return on equity of 2.63% and a negative net margin of 0.12%.The company’s revenue was up 56.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.33 earnings per share.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of International Paper from $55.00 to $46.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus set a $57.80 target price on shares of International Paper and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on shares of International Paper from $61.00 to $57.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 31st. Seaport Res Ptn downgraded International Paper from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, October 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of International Paper in a research report on Tuesday. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $50.92.

International Paper Stock Down 2.9%

IP traded down $1.11 on Friday, hitting $36.78. The company had a trading volume of 434,436 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,922,837. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -367.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.33. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $44.71 and a 200-day moving average price of $47.16. International Paper has a 12-month low of $35.79 and a 12-month high of $60.36.

International Paper Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th will be issued a $0.4625 dividend. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.0%. International Paper’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -70.88%.

Insider Transactions at International Paper

In other International Paper news, SVP Joseph R. Saab sold 9,000 shares of International Paper stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.53, for a total transaction of $409,770.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 27,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,259,951.69. The trade was a 24.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of International Paper

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in International Paper by 43.0% in the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 301,963 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $16,110,000 after acquiring an additional 90,766 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in shares of International Paper by 22.9% in the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,124 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $113,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its holdings in International Paper by 8.8% during the first quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 5,059 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC grew its position in International Paper by 47.3% during the first quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 61,305 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $3,271,000 after buying an additional 19,692 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its holdings in International Paper by 51.9% in the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 28,400 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,515,000 after buying an additional 9,700 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.95% of the company’s stock.

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.