Thu Sep 19 07:22:51 UTC 2024: ## International Paper Receives “Moderate Buy” Rating: Analysts Bullish on Packaging Giant

**New York, NY (MarketBeat News) -** International Paper (NYSE:IP) is seeing a positive outlook from analysts, with an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from nine firms covering the company. This comes after a strong second-quarter earnings report, beating analysts’ expectations.

**Positive Analyst Sentiment:**

* Six analysts have issued a “Buy” rating, while one assigned a “Strong Buy” rating.
* The average 1-year price target among analysts is $50.21, suggesting potential upside from current levels.
* Recent research reports have seen several analysts raise their price targets on IP, reflecting confidence in the company’s growth prospects.

**Earnings Beat Fuels Optimism:**

* In the second quarter, International Paper exceeded analysts’ expectations, reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.55 compared to the anticipated $0.41.
* Revenue for the quarter was $4.73 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $4.78 billion.
* The company’s revenue grew 1.1% year-over-year, demonstrating continued resilience in the face of macroeconomic challenges.

**Institutional Investors Remain Committed:**

* Hedge funds and institutional investors continue to show confidence in International Paper, with 81.95% of the stock owned by these entities.
* Several funds, including Retirement Systems of Alabama, Massmutual Trust Co., and Czech National Bank, increased their holdings in IP during recent quarters.

**Dividend and Growth Strategy:**

* International Paper recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4625 per share, representing a yield of 3.73%.
* The company’s commitment to shareholder returns and its focus on sustainable, renewable packaging solutions are key drivers of investor interest.

**Outlook:**

Analysts are expecting International Paper to post EPS of $1.55 for the current year. The company’s strong earnings performance, positive analyst sentiment, and institutional investor support suggest that International Paper is well-positioned for continued growth and profitability in the coming quarters.

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