Jefferies Financial Group Has Lowered Expectations for International Paper (NYSE:IP) Stock Price

International Paper (NYSE:IP) had its price target dropped by investment analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $51.00 to $47.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the basic materials company’s stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s target price would suggest a potential upside of 22.84% from the stock’s current price.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Citigroup decreased their price target on International Paper from $55.00 to $46.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $55.00 target price on shares of International Paper and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of International Paper in a report on Monday. Bank of America raised shares of International Paper from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $57.00 in a report on Thursday, August 28th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of International Paper from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 18th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $49.16.

International Paper Price Performance

Shares of International Paper stock opened at $38.26 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $20.20 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.22 and a beta of 1.09. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $40.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.53. International Paper has a twelve month low of $35.56 and a twelve month high of $60.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.31.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.43) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.53 by ($0.96). The business had revenue of $6.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.76 billion. International Paper had a negative return on equity of 0.16% and a negative net margin of 5.45%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 56.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.33 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that International Paper will post 2.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Clay R. Ellis sold 18,819 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.85, for a total transaction of $693,480.15. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rise Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of International Paper by 281.3% in the 1st quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 469 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 346 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC boosted its holdings in International Paper by 63,400.0% in the second quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 635 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 634 shares during the last quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. acquired a new stake in International Paper in the second quarter worth about $33,000. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in International Paper during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors bought a new stake in International Paper during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. 81.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Stores Impacting International Paper

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised several near-term quarter estimates (small increases to Q2 2026, Q3 2026 and Q2/Q3 2027 EPS projections), signaling modestly improved short-term expectations from that shop; Zacks still rates IP a “Hold”.
• Positive Sentiment: IP paid its quarterly dividend ($0.4625, annualized $1.85), supporting yield-focused investors (yield ~4.8%) and providing income support to the share price.
• Neutral Sentiment: International Paper set its earnings release date for Jan. 29, giving investors a near-term catalyst for fresh company guidance and results. International Paper sets January 29 date for 2025 results, outlines 2026 earnings schedule
• Neutral Sentiment: Institutional ownership remains high (about 82%) with several funds adjusting stakes, which can amplify moves but also provides a stable ownership base.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage is mixed — some trims to targets from big banks but a recent upgrade at Zacks from “strong sell” to “hold”; consensus remains a moderate buy with an average target near $50, so analyst views are varied.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut Q4 2026 and FY2026 EPS materially (Q4 from $0.76 to $0.55; FY2026 from $2.55 to $2.36) and trimmed FY2027 slightly — these downgrades weigh on medium-term earnings visibility and are a clear negative for the stock.
• Negative Sentiment: An IP SVP, Clay Ellis, sold 18,819 shares (SEC Form 4 disclosure), which can be perceived negatively by some investors. SEC Form 4 — Clay Ellis sale
• Negative Sentiment: Negative media pieces (e.g., “3 Reasons to Avoid IP”) highlight valuation/operational concerns and may pressure sentiment and flows. 3 Reasons to Avoid IP and 1 Stock to Buy Instead

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.