International Paper (NYSE:IP) Issues Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.08 EPS

International Paper (NYSE:IP) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The basic materials company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.04) by $0.08, FiscalAI reports. International Paper had a negative return on equity of 0.49% and a negative net margin of 13.42%.The firm had revenue of $6 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.20 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.20 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 11.3% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from International Paper’s conference call:

• Positive Sentiment: International Paper reported stronger-than-expected operational execution in Q2, including a roughly 500-basis-point year-over-year improvement in mill performance and North American box-volume growth of 1.7%.
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects a significant second-half earnings improvement, supported by price-increase realization, the Riverdale conversion ramp, NORPAC’s contribution, and ongoing cost reductions. North America’s Q3 Adjusted EBITDA outlook is $555 million–$585 million, while EMEA’s is $230 million–$250 million.
• Negative Sentiment: The company reduced the high end of its 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook by approximately $50 million because of weaker macro conditions and the prolonged Middle East conflict, with additional pressure from transportation, OCC, diesel, and medical costs.
• Negative Sentiment: Pine Hill operations were suspended for structural roof repairs and are expected to resume by the end of August; the disruption is estimated to reduce second-half results by $70 million–$100 million before an anticipated insurance recovery. Demand is also softer than previously expected, with North American industry volumes now projected to remain broadly flat in the second half.
• Positive Sentiment: The planned separation of the EMEA packaging business remains on track, while more than $210 million of run-rate EMEA footprint and cost savings have been announced, including 31 facility closures or planned closures and a reduction of more than 3,000 positions.

International Paper Price Performance

Shares of NYSE IP traded down $1.93 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $41.22. The company had a trading volume of 2,687,495 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,778,304. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $36.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $38.02. The stock has a market cap of $21.83 billion, a PE ratio of -6.50 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. International Paper has a 1-year low of $29.26 and a 1-year high of $52.28.

International Paper Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 4.5%. International Paper’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -29.09%.

Trending Headlines about International Paper

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

• Positive Sentiment: Adjusted earnings beat expectations. International Paper reported second-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.04, versus analysts’ consensus estimate of a $0.04 loss. Adjusted EBITDA was $587 million, while operating cash flow reached $526 million. International Paper Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management provided a stronger near-term EBITDA target. International Paper expects third-quarter adjusted EBITDA of $780 million to $830 million and maintained full-year guidance of $3.2 billion to $3.4 billion, despite an $85 million anticipated impact from the temporary Pine Hill, Alabama, mill closure. IP Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Containerboard pricing could support valuation. An analyst’s updated fair-value view reportedly reflects expectations for improved containerboard pricing, which could help margins if market conditions strengthen. JPMorgan also upgraded its rating on IP, providing an additional positive signal. International Paper Stock Fair Value Rises
• Neutral Sentiment: Insider buying suggests management confidence, but institutional positioning is mixed. Company insiders made several open-market purchases over the past six months, while recent institutional filings showed both substantial additions and reductions in IP holdings. International Paper Stock Opinions on Q2 Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue and profitability deteriorated year over year. Second-quarter sales were $6.0 billion, below the $6.2 billion analyst estimate and down 11.3% from the prior year. The company also reported a $12 million loss from continuing operations, compared with $0.20 EPS a year earlier, while free cash flow was negative $7 million. High maintenance costs and mill outages pressured margins. International Paper Reports Sales Below Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts lowered EPS forecasts. New reductions to second- and third-quarter EPS estimates indicate continued caution about near-term earnings, even after the quarterly adjusted earnings beat. Q2 EPS Forecast Cut

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on IP shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of International Paper from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $52.00 target price on shares of International Paper in a research note on Friday. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of International Paper from $36.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Seaport Research Partners upgraded shares of International Paper from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $39.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised International Paper from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $51.00 to $61.00 in a report on Tuesday. Nine research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $48.36.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On International Paper

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of IP. DV Equities LLC purchased a new position in International Paper during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Summit Securities Group LLC boosted its position in International Paper by 115.4% during the fourth quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 784 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 5,875 shares during the last quarter. Kelleher Financial Advisors purchased a new position in International Paper in the third quarter valued at about $36,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc acquired a new position in International Paper in the 2nd quarter worth about $73,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of International Paper during the 4th quarter worth about $92,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.95% of the company’s stock.

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.