GrafTech International (EAF) Scheduled to Post Earnings on Friday

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) is scheduled to be issuing its quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Friday, April 26th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of ($0.18) per share for the quarter. Parties that wish to register for the company’s conference call can do so using this link.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported ($0.27) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.14) by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $137.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $141.20 million. GrafTech International had a negative net margin of 41.14% and a negative return on equity of 39.57%. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.17 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 44.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect GrafTech International to post $0 EPS for the current fiscal year and $0 EPS for the next fiscal year.

GrafTech International Stock Performance

Shares of EAF opened at $1.49 on Friday. GrafTech International has a 1 year low of $1.18 and a 1 year high of $5.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 11.90, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 3.54. The company has a market cap of $381.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.49 and a beta of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1.53 and a 200-day moving average of $2.13.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, major shareholder Colonial House Capital Ltd purchased 2,303,599 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 16th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $1.78 per share, for a total transaction of $4,100,406.22. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 29,535,575 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,573,323.50. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of GrafTech International

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAF. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY raised its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 21.8% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 11,984 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 2,148 shares in the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC raised its holdings in GrafTech International by 10.6% in the 2nd quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 25,220 shares of the company’s stock valued at $127,000 after acquiring an additional 2,408 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in GrafTech International by 101.5% in the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,339 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 2,690 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 79,969 shares of the company’s stock valued at $381,000 after buying an additional 2,757 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in GrafTech International during the first quarter worth about $29,000. 92.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on EAF. Citigroup reduced their price target on GrafTech International from $4.00 to $2.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of GrafTech International from $3.00 to $2.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of GrafTech International from $2.00 to $1.50 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, UBS Group started coverage on GrafTech International in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $2.00 price target for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, GrafTech International currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1.88.

About GrafTech International

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.