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

International Paper (NYSE:IP) had its price objective raised by investment analysts at Citigroup from $46.00 to $47.00 in a report released on Friday,MarketScreener reports. The firm presently has a “buy” rating on the basic materials company’s stock. Citigroup’s price objective indicates a potential upside of 16.77% from the stock’s current price.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on IP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of International Paper from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Zacks Research cut shares of International Paper from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen cut International Paper from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, October 18th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on International Paper from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, UBS Group decreased their target price on International Paper from $53.00 to $51.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 12th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $49.53.

International Paper Stock Up 3.2%

Shares of IP stock 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 stock has a market cap of $21.25 billion, a PE ratio of -6.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 1.10. The business’s fifty day moving average is $40.23 and its 200-day moving average is $44.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.28.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). International Paper had a negative net margin of 14.12% and a negative return on equity of 0.35%. The firm had revenue of $6.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.02) EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 53.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that International Paper will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at International Paper

In other news, CEO Andrew K. Silvernail acquired 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $39.98 per share, for a total transaction of $1,999,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 50,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,999,000. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Clay R. Ellis sold 18,819 shares of the business’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 disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Paper

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of IP. AlphaQuest LLC grew its stake in International Paper by 63,400.0% during the 2nd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 635 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 634 shares in the last quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of International Paper in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its holdings in shares of International Paper by 94.0% during the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 710 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 344 shares during the period. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in International Paper during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Kelleher Financial Advisors purchased a new position in International Paper during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 81.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories 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.

International Paper Company Profile

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.