5 Best Materials Stocks for 2021

4. International Paper Company (NYSE: IP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36

International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) is a paper and packaging company operating n the US and internationally. It has three segments: Industrial Packaging, Global Cellulose Fibers, and Printing Papers. The company ranks 4th on our list of the best materials stocks for 2021.

On June 28th, Stephens upgraded International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) to Overweight, while earlier that month, Argus also upgraded the company to Buy with a $75 price target. In the first quarter of 2021, International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) had an EPS of $0.76, beating estimates by $0.15. The company’s revenue was $5.36 billion, up 0.21% year over year and beating estimates by $52.44 million, and it has a gross profit margin of 29.71%. The stock has gained 26.79% in the past 6 months and year to date.

By the end of the first quarter of 2021, 36 hedge funds held stakes in International Paper Company (NYSE: IP) worth roughly $259 million. This is compared to 31 hedge funds in the previous quarter with a total stake value of roughly $167 million.