GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) Given New $1.50 Price Target at BMO Capital Markets

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) had its target price lowered by BMO Capital Markets from $2.00 to $1.50 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a market perform rating on the stock.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised GrafTech International from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, December 6th. Citigroup raised their target price on GrafTech International from $1.00 to $2.20 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd.

GrafTech International Stock Down 15.9 %

EAF stock opened at $1.14 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 3.79, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 57.38. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $1.72 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.44. The company has a market capitalization of $291.88 million, a P/E ratio of -0.97 and a beta of 0.97. GrafTech International has a twelve month low of $0.52 and a twelve month high of $2.53.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported ($0.13) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.14) by $0.01. GrafTech International had a negative return on equity of 459.99% and a negative net margin of 55.21%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.27) earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that GrafTech International will post -0.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GrafTech International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in GrafTech International by 475.6% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 2,458,829 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,246,000 after purchasing an additional 2,031,652 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in GrafTech International by 81.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,536,232 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,623,000 after acquiring an additional 2,029,350 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC boosted its position in GrafTech International by 385.5% during the 3rd quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 175,702 shares of the company’s stock worth $232,000 after acquiring an additional 139,513 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in GrafTech International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $156,000. Finally, Paloma Partners Management Co acquired a new position in shares of GrafTech International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $155,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.83% of the company’s stock.

GrafTech International Company Profile

GrafTech International Ltd. research, develops, manufactures, and sells graphite and carbon-based solutions worldwide. The company offers graphite electrodes to produce electric arc furnace steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals; and petroleum needle coke, a crystalline form of carbon used in the production of graphite electrodes and synthetic graphite.