GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Reduce" by Brokerages

Key Points

• GrafTech has a consensus "Reduce" rating from six analysts (one sell, five hold) with an average 12‑month target of $11.75 and recent price‑target cuts including RBC lowering its objective to $10.
• The company posted a sharp earnings miss on Feb. 6, reporting EPS of ($2.45) versus estimates of ($1.27) and revenue of $116.46M versus $140M expected, while analysts forecast a -0.57 EPS for the current year.
• Shares opened at $6.65 (52‑week range $4.92–$20.32) with a market cap of about $172.7M, and institutional investors own 92.83% of the stock after large recent stake increases by firms like AQR, Marshall Wace and Jane Street.

GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Reduce" from the six analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $11.75.

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of GrafTech International from $21.00 to $10.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of GrafTech International in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered GrafTech International from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Saturday, February 14th.

Institutional Trading of GrafTech International

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in GrafTech International by 5,083.2% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 635,663 shares of the company's stock worth $556,000 after buying an additional 623,399 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership bought a new position in shares of GrafTech International in the second quarter worth about $182,000. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in shares of GrafTech International by 132.8% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,782,531 shares of the company's stock worth $2,699,000 after purchasing an additional 1,587,052 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of GrafTech International during the second quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 357.6% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,678,655 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,633,000 after purchasing an additional 1,311,797 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.83% of the company's stock.

GrafTech International Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:EAF opened at $6.65 on Friday. GrafTech International has a 52 week low of $4.92 and a 52 week high of $20.32. The company's fifty day moving average is $8.21 and its 200-day moving average is $12.86. The company has a market capitalization of $172.72 million, a PE ratio of -0.78 and a beta of 1.63.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 6th. The company reported ($2.45) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($1.27) by ($1.18). The company had revenue of $116.46 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $140.00 million. On average, analysts forecast that GrafTech International will post -0.57 EPS for the current year.

GrafTech International Company Profile

GrafTech International NYSE: EAF is a leading global manufacturer of graphite electrodes and other specialty graphite products used primarily in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) for steel production. The company's core offerings include ultrahigh-power, high-power and regular power electrodes, along with related accessories such as graphite shapes and heterogeneous carbon materials. These products play a critical role in steelmaking by conducting the high electrical currents required to melt scrap steel efficiently and with reduced environmental impact compared to traditional blast furnace methods.

With a manufacturing footprint spanning North America, Europe and Asia, GrafTech serves steel producers and foundries worldwide.

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