GrafTech International Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:EAF)

GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Traders bought 3,168 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 1,044% compared to the average volume of 277 call options.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

GrafTech International Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of GrafTech International stock traded down $0.01 during trading on Thursday, reaching $1.24. The company's stock had a trading volume of 931,501 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,666,511. GrafTech International has a 1-year low of $0.52 and a 1-year high of $2.53. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1.21.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 25th. The company reported ($0.13) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.15) by $0.02. The business had revenue of $111.84 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $122.33 million. GrafTech International had a negative return on equity of 459.99% and a negative net margin of 27.17%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.10) earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that GrafTech International will post -0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at GrafTech International

In related news, Director Jean-Marc Germain bought 50,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $0.78 per share, with a total value of $39,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 90,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $70,200. The trade was a 125.00% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.72% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GrafTech International

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wolverine Trading LLC purchased a new stake in GrafTech International during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP acquired a new stake in shares of GrafTech International during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Ethic Inc. boosted its position in GrafTech International by 89.0% in the fourth quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 21,889 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 10,307 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Markets Corp purchased a new stake in GrafTech International in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Beaconlight Capital LLC acquired a new position in GrafTech International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $57,000. 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.