Citigroup Issues Positive Forecast for Huntsman (NYSE:HUN) Stock Price

Key Points

• Citigroup raised its Huntsman price target from $9 to $10 but kept a neutral rating; the new target implied just 0.84% upside from the prior close.
• Huntsman shares rose 3.8% to $9.92 in Wednesday trading. Analysts overall maintained a cautious stance, with a consensus “Hold” rating and an average target of $11.62.
• Third-quarter revenue increased 17.6% year over year to $1.72 billion, topping expectations, while EPS of $0.04 missed the $0.07 consensus.

Huntsman (NYSE:HUN - Get Free Report) had its target price increased by stock analysts at Citigroup from $9.00 to $10.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "neutral" rating on the basic materials company's stock. Citigroup's price target points to a potential upside of 0.84% from the stock's previous close.

HUN has been the subject of several other reports. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Huntsman in a research note on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Huntsman from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $12.00 price target on shares of Huntsman in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a "hold" rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of Huntsman in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Huntsman from $10.00 to $9.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, October 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have given a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and four have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $11.62.

Huntsman Stock Up 3.8%

Shares of NYSE HUN traded up $0.37 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $9.92. 3,508,307 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,056,836. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 1.33. Huntsman has a 52-week low of $7.30 and a 52-week high of $16.08. The business's fifty day moving average price is $9.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $11.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.74 billion, a PE ratio of -9.92 and a beta of 0.73.

Huntsman (NYSE:HUN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 2nd. The basic materials company reported $0.04 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.03). Huntsman had a negative net margin of 2.81% and a negative return on equity of 3.11%. The business had revenue of $1.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.03) EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 17.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Huntsman will post -0.26 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of HUN. Private Management Group Inc. purchased a new position in Huntsman in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,935,000. Inscription Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Huntsman during the 3rd quarter worth about $177,000. Bfsg LLC purchased a new stake in Huntsman during the third quarter valued at about $215,000. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in Huntsman by 457.8% during the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 198,356 shares of the basic materials company's stock valued at $1,746,000 after buying an additional 162,798 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Childress Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Huntsman in the third quarter worth about $85,000. 84.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Huntsman News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Huntsman this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target to $11 from $10 and kept an equal-weight rating. The higher target suggests some potential upside, though the rating is not an outright bullish call. Barclays rating information
• Positive Sentiment: RBC lifted its target to $10 from $9 while maintaining Sector Perform, and UBS also raised its target to $10 from $9 while keeping a Neutral rating. The target increases are supportive, but the unchanged ratings signal limited conviction in near-term outperformance. RBC price target news UBS price target news
• Neutral Sentiment: Huntsman’s earnings call was described as cautiously optimistic, but with continuing headwinds. That suggests potential improvement, though the available report does not detail enough to establish a clear near-term catalyst. Earnings call highlights
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted EPS was $0.04, below the $0.07 consensus estimate. The earnings miss tempers the positive signal from stronger sales. Third-quarter earnings report

About Huntsman

Huntsman Corporation NYSE: HUN is a global manufacturer of differentiated and commodity chemical products. Founded in 1970, the company develops and produces materials used by manufacturers in a broad range of industries, including construction, automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, coatings, adhesives and consumer products.

Huntsman's principal businesses include polyurethane products, performance products and advanced materials. Its portfolio includes polyurethane systems and intermediates, epoxy and other specialty resins, curing agents, amines, maleic anhydride and other chemicals used in insulation, composites, coatings, adhesives and industrial applications.

The company serves customers internationally through manufacturing facilities, research and development operations, and sales offices in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and other regions.

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