Avient (NYSE:AVNT) Trading Up 15.7% After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Key Points

• Avient shares surged 15.7% after the company reported quarterly EPS of $0.96, beating estimates by $0.07, while revenue of $917 million exceeded expectations and increased 5.8% year over year.
• The company issued fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $3.10–$3.25 and third-quarter 2026 guidance of $0.80, while declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.275 per share, representing a 2.6% annualized yield.
• Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $45.71; institutional investors own 95.48% of Avient’s outstanding shares.

Shares of Avient Corporation (NYSE:AVNT - Get Free Report) rose 15.7% during trading on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The company traded as high as $43.17 and last traded at $43.8810. 94,748 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 88% from the average session volume of 815,751 shares. The stock had previously closed at $37.92.

The company reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.07. Avient had a return on equity of 11.11% and a net margin of 4.81%.The business had revenue of $917.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $898.53 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.80 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Avient has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.100-3.250 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.800-0.800 EPS.

Avient Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 11th will be given a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 11th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. Avient's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.95%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. UBS Group set a $44.00 price objective on Avient in a research report on Monday, June 8th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Avient in a research report on Wednesday, May 13th. Truist Financial began coverage on Avient in a research note on Monday, June 8th. They set a "buy" rating and a $44.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird set a $43.00 price objective on Avient in a report on Friday, May 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Avient has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $45.71.

Institutional Trading of Avient

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. TD Private Client Wealth LLC increased its holdings in shares of Avient by 342.3% in the 4th quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 942 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 729 shares during the period. Torren Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avient during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. Danske Bank A S bought a new stake in Avient during the third quarter valued at about $40,000. Quarry LP boosted its position in Avient by 83.1% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,234 shares of the company's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 560 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in Avient in the fourth quarter valued at about $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.48% of the company's stock.

Avient Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $3.95 billion, a PE ratio of 25.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.93.

About Avient

Avient Corporation NYSE: AVNT is a global provider of specialized and sustainable polymer materials, delivering color, additive and engineered solutions to a wide range of industries. The company's core offerings include masterbatches, colorant systems, compounds and resins designed to enhance performance, aesthetics and environmental sustainability. Avient serves markets such as packaging, automotive, consumer goods, healthcare, electronics, and agriculture, tailoring products to meet stringent regulatory and end-use requirements.

Formed through a corporate rebranding in 2020 following the divestiture of PolyOne's specialty businesses, Avient traces its heritage to a legacy of polymer innovation spanning decades.

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