Financial Counselors Inc. Has $5.32 Million Position in International Paper (NYSE:IP)

Financial Counselors Inc. decreased its holdings in International Paper (NYSE:IP) by 2.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 98,769 shares of the basic materials company’s stock after selling 2,180 shares during the quarter. Financial Counselors Inc.’s holdings in International Paper were worth $5,316,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FMR LLC raised its position in International Paper by 88.4% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 17,839,237 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $871,447,000 after purchasing an additional 8,370,273 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of International Paper by 511.1% in the 3rd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,970,432 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $145,106,000 after purchasing an additional 2,484,386 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLP raised its holdings in shares of International Paper by 147.2% in the 4th quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP now owns 2,019,806 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $108,706,000 after buying an additional 1,202,632 shares in the last quarter. Hill City Capital LP lifted its position in shares of International Paper by 287.5% during the 3rd quarter. Hill City Capital LP now owns 1,550,000 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $75,718,000 after buying an additional 1,150,000 shares during the period. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC acquired a new stake in International Paper in the 3rd quarter valued at $24,327,000. 81.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

International Paper Stock Performance

Shares of International Paper stock opened at $55.65 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $53.62. International Paper has a fifty-two week low of $33.16 and a fifty-two week high of $60.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.49 and a quick ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market cap of $29.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.45, a P/E/G ratio of 0.39 and a beta of 1.02.

International Paper (NYSE:IP) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03 by ($0.05). International Paper had a net margin of 2.99% and a return on equity of 4.75%. Sell-side analysts predict that International Paper will post 2.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

International Paper Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were given a dividend of $0.4625 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.85 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.32%. International Paper’s payout ratio is presently 117.83%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com raised International Paper from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $64.00 price target on shares of International Paper in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of International Paper in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a “buy” rating and a $60.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of International Paper in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $59.00 target price for the company. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on International Paper in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $55.32.

International Paper Profile

International Paper Company produces and sells renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products in North America, Latin America, Europe, and North Africa. It operates through two segments, Industrial Packaging and Global Cellulose Fibers. The company offers linerboard, medium, whitetop, recycled linerboard, recycled medium and saturating kraft; and pulp for a range of applications, such as diapers, towel and tissue products, feminine care, incontinence, and other personal care products, as well as specialty pulps for use in textiles, construction materials, paints, coatings, and others.