GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) Stock Price Expected to Rise, BMO Capital Markets Analyst Says

Key Points

• BMO Capital Markets increased the price target for GrafTech International from $1.00 to $1.50, indicating a potential upside of 0.33% from the current share price.
• UBS Group, however, lowered its price objective on GrafTech to $0.80 and maintained a "neutral" rating, reflecting differing analyst outlooks on the stock.
• Insider trading revealed that Director Jean-Marc Germain purchased 50,000 shares at $0.78, marking a significant increase in his holdings, now valued at around $70,200.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by research analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $1.00 to $1.50 in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "market perform" rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets' price objective indicates a potential upside of 2.39% from the company's current price.

Separately, UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of GrafTech International from $1.50 to $0.80 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $1.63.

GrafTech International Trading Down 3.6%

Shares of EAF stock traded down $0.06 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $1.47. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,379,976 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,666,979. The stock has a market cap of $378.19 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.79 and a beta of 1.51. GrafTech International has a twelve month low of $0.52 and a twelve month high of $2.53. The business has a fifty day moving average of $1.15 and a 200-day moving average of $1.08.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 25th. The company reported ($0.16) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.12) by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $131.84 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $130.44 million. On average, equities analysts expect that GrafTech International will post -0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at GrafTech International

In other news, Director Jean-Marc Germain bought 50,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $0.78 per share, for a total transaction of $39,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 90,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $70,200. This trade represents a 125.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.72% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GrafTech International

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EAF. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its stake in GrafTech International by 42.3% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 27,531 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 8,188 shares during the last quarter. Ethic Inc. boosted its stake in GrafTech International by 89.0% during the 4th quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 21,889 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 10,307 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its stake in GrafTech International by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 95,810 shares of the company's stock valued at $84,000 after acquiring an additional 13,901 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in GrafTech International by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 358,904 shares of the company's stock valued at $314,000 after acquiring an additional 15,147 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wolverine Trading LLC bought a new position in shares of GrafTech International in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. 92.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.