Wells Fargo & Company Lowers International Paper (NYSE:IP) Price Target to $38.00

International Paper (NYSE:IP) had its price target lowered by Wells Fargo & Company from $40.00 to $38.00 in a research note issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “equal weight” rating on the basic materials company’s stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s target price would suggest a potential upside of 12.84% from the company’s current price.

IP has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of International Paper from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. BNP Paribas Exane upgraded shares of International Paper from a “strong sell” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $44.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 24th. Truist Financial set a $48.00 target price on shares of International Paper in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Citigroup increased their target price on International Paper from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on International Paper from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $48.06.

International Paper Trading Down 1.0%

NYSE:IP opened at $33.68 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $42.61 and a 200 day simple moving average of $42.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.02 and a beta of 1.09. International Paper has a 1-year low of $33.57 and a 1-year high of $56.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

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

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Anders Gustafsson bought 13,217 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $37.83 per share, with a total value of $499,999.11. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 26,092 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $987,060.36. This represents a 102.66% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Andrew K. Silvernail purchased 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 30th. The shares were bought at an average price of $39.98 per share, for a total transaction of $1,999,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer owned 50,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,999,000. This represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Insiders have purchased 76,092 shares of company stock worth $2,999,064 over the last ninety days. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of International Paper

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. AE Wealth Management LLC raised its position in International Paper by 8.5% during the third quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 332,310 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $15,419,000 after acquiring an additional 26,146 shares in the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC acquired a new stake in International Paper in the third quarter valued at approximately $2,340,000. Norges Bank bought a new stake in International Paper in the second quarter worth approximately $281,735,000. Tableaux LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Paper during the 2nd quarter worth $2,342,000. Finally, Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Paper during the 3rd quarter worth $1,181,000. 81.95% of the stock is currently 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: Announced a new 468,000 sq. ft. sustainable packaging facility in Rankin County, Mississippi — this adds packaging capacity, supports demand for sustainable packaging and reinforces long‑term growth/ESG positioning. International Paper Plans to Build New Sustainable Packaging Facility in Rankin County, Mississippi
• Positive Sentiment: Some analyst optimism remains: a recent consensus summary shows analysts giving the stock a “Moderate Buy,” indicating pockets of support among the street. International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Zacks raised a couple of fourth-quarter estimates (Q4 2026 and Q4 2027) — small upward tweaks to later-quarter forecasts that suggest some improvement in expected end‑of‑year results. MarketBeat – International Paper analyst notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo trimmed its price target from $40 to $38 but kept an “equal weight” rating — reduces upside expectations modestly while leaving the rating unchanged. Benzinga coverage of Wells Fargo price target change
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage notes that IP has underperformed the S&P 500 over the past year; analysts are cautiously optimistic but the relative performance narrative can keep investors hesitant. Is International Paper Stock Underperforming the S&P 500?
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut several near‑term quarterly EPS estimates (multiple trims to Q1–Q3 2026 and Q1–Q3 2027), signaling weaker near‑term profitability expectations that can pressure the stock. MarketBeat – International Paper analyst updates
• Negative Sentiment: Fundamental headwinds remain visible from past results — recent quarterly results showed an EPS miss and negative net margin, underscoring short‑term profit pressure and contributing to bearish sentiment.

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.