149,577 Shares in International Paper Company $IP Acquired by Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio

Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 149,577 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,699,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its stake in International Paper by 452.6% during the fourth quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 641 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of International Paper during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Aberdeen Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of International Paper during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Ascentis Independent Advisors acquired a new stake in International Paper during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, DV Equities LLC acquired a new stake in International Paper during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.95% of the company’s stock.

International Paper Stock Down 0.6%

NYSE IP opened at $36.25 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. International Paper Company has a fifty-two week low of $29.26 and a fifty-two week high of $50.25. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $39.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.49. The stock has a market cap of $19.20 billion, a PE ratio of -5.56, a P/E/G ratio of 4.53 and a beta of 0.93.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The basic materials company reported $0.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.08. International Paper had a negative net margin of 14.20% and a negative return on equity of 1.09%. The company had revenue of $6 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.19 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.20 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that International Paper Company will post 1.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

International Paper Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.4625 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.1%. International Paper’s payout ratio is -28.37%.

Insider Buying and Selling at International Paper

In other news, CAO Holly G. Goughnour sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.96, for a total transaction of $146,860.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 34,248 shares in the company, valued at $1,437,046.08. This trade represents a 9.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP William Thomas Hamic sold 24,500 shares of International Paper stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.20, for a total value of $1,009,400.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 106,952 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,406,422.40. The trade was a 18.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 0.21% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting International Paper

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

• Positive Sentiment: Long-term earnings outlook improved: Zacks raised its FY2027 EPS forecast to $2.81 from $2.75 and FY2028 EPS forecast to $3.52 from $3.47. Estimates for Q1 2027, Q3 2027, Q4 2027, Q1 2028 and Q2 2028 were also increased, signaling expectations for stronger profitability beyond the current year.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain cautious: Despite the longer-term estimate increases, Zacks maintained a “Hold” rating. The current full-year consensus remains $1.34 EPS, while the company’s recent results showed revenue declining 11.3% year over year and a negative net margin.
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry comparison offers limited direction: A recent report compares International Paper with Mayr-Melnhof Karton, but the comparison itself does not represent a new company catalyst or change to IP’s fundamentals. Head to Head Comparison: Mayr-Melnhof Karton and International Paper
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term and FY2026 estimates were reduced: Zacks cut Q3 2026 EPS to $0.32 from $0.34, Q4 2026 EPS to $0.78 from $0.79 and FY2026 EPS to $1.29 from $1.32. These downgrades imply softer near-term earnings and are the clearest reason the stock may be under pressure today.
• Neutral Sentiment: Forest-restoration grants are not a direct earnings catalyst: Nearly $5 million in grants will support habitat restoration in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The announcement may be relevant to sustainability considerations, but it does not identify a material financial benefit or new contract for International Paper. NFWF and Partners Announce $5 Million in Grants

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on IP. Seaport Research Partners reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $46.00 price target on shares of International Paper in a research report on Wednesday, August 12th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of International Paper from a “sell (d)” rating to a “sell (d+)” rating in a research note on Friday, August 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of International Paper from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $51.00 to $61.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of International Paper from $40.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on International Paper from $43.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $48.75.

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.