GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) Receives $16.25 Average PT from Analysts

Key Points

• GrafTech International Ltd. has received a consensus rating of "Hold" from six research firms, with an average 12-month price target of $16.25.
• The company's earnings report showed an EPS of -$1.60, missing the analysts' expectations of -$1.20, although revenue exceeded estimates at $131.84 million.
• Institutional investors currently own approximately 92.83% of GrafTech International's stock, indicating significant interest from large investors.

Shares of GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Hold" from the six research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $16.25.

Several research firms have issued reports on EAF. Zacks Research cut shares of GrafTech International from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of GrafTech International from $10.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GrafTech International

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EAF. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in shares of GrafTech International by 57.2% in the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,131,013 shares of the company's stock worth $6,936,000 after acquiring an additional 2,594,562 shares during the last quarter. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. purchased a new position in GrafTech International in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,433,000. Marshall Wace LLP raised its holdings in GrafTech International by 132.8% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,782,531 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,699,000 after buying an additional 1,587,052 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC raised its holdings in GrafTech International by 357.6% in the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,678,655 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,633,000 after buying an additional 1,311,797 shares during the period. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in GrafTech International by 24.6% in the fourth quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,981,468 shares of the company's stock valued at $10,348,000 after buying an additional 1,182,040 shares during the period. 92.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

GrafTech International Trading Up 4.8%

Shares of GrafTech International stock traded up $0.61 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $13.31. 877,588 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 271,581. GrafTech International has a twelve month low of $5.50 and a twelve month high of $25.30. The stock has a market capitalization of $343.66 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.62 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $10.04.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 25th. The company reported ($1.60) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.20) by ($0.40). The business had revenue of $131.84 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $130.44 million. Equities research analysts forecast that GrafTech International will post -0.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.