International Paper Co. Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (IP)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- International Paper (NYSE:IP) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of A- . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, revenue growth and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Compared to its closing price of one year ago, IP's share price has jumped by 26.47%, exceeding the performance of the broader market during that same time frame. Regarding the stock's future course, although almost any stock can fall in a broad market decline, IP should continue to move higher despite the fact that it has already enjoyed a very nice gain in the past year.
• Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 14.9%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues rose by 11.1%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
• Net operating cash flow has increased to $713.00 million or 11.93% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, INTL PAPER CO has also modestly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 9.97%.
• INTL PAPER CO's earnings per share declined by 13.6% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has suffered a declining pattern of earnings per share over the past year. However, we anticipate this trend reversing over the coming year. During the past fiscal year, INTL PAPER CO reported lower earnings of $1.71 versus $2.88 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($3.75 versus $1.71).
• Current return on equity is lower than its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of weakness within the company. Compared to other companies in the Paper & Forest Products industry and the overall market on the basis of return on equity, INTL PAPER CO has outperformed in comparison with the industry average, but has underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500.

International Paper Company operates as a paper and packaging company in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia, and north Africa. International has a market cap of $18.33 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer non-durables industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 15.8, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 4.8% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday.

You can view the full International Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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