Koppers (NYSE:KOP) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Koppers has been downgraded by Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating, indicating a significant decrease in investor confidence.
• The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.48 for the last quarter, missing estimates by $0.01 and showing a 10.4% decline in revenue year-over-year.
• Among analysts, Koppers holds an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus price target of $52.50, though some have significantly lowered their price targets recently.

Zacks Research cut shares of Koppers (NYSE:KOP - Free Report) from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a report issued on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. B. Riley restated a "buy" rating and set a $50.00 price objective (down previously from $55.00) on shares of Koppers in a report on Monday, August 11th. Barrington Research reduced their price objective on Koppers from $64.00 to $55.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $52.50.

Koppers Stock Performance

Koppers stock traded down $0.15 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $28.72. 170,843 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 168,797. Koppers has a 52 week low of $22.99 and a 52 week high of $39.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 2.60. The firm has a market cap of $566.36 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.89 and a beta of 1.46. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $31.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.76.

Koppers (NYSE:KOP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 8th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by ($0.01). Koppers had a return on equity of 17.43% and a net margin of 0.76%.The business had revenue of $504.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $540.30 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.36 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 10.4% on a year-over-year basis. Koppers has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.000-4.600 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Koppers will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Koppers Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. Koppers's payout ratio is presently 44.44%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Koppers

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in KOP. Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Koppers by 34.4% in the first quarter. Pzena Investment Management LLC now owns 1,221,328 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $34,197,000 after buying an additional 312,556 shares in the last quarter. CSM Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Koppers in the second quarter valued at approximately $4,725,000. LSV Asset Management raised its position in shares of Koppers by 19.9% in the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 758,661 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $21,243,000 after buying an additional 125,799 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in Koppers by 145.2% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 186,729 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock valued at $6,003,000 after purchasing an additional 110,577 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kestrel Investment Management Corp acquired a new position in Koppers during the first quarter valued at approximately $2,535,000. 92.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Koppers Company Profile

Koppers Holdings Inc provides treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals, and carbon compounds in the United States, Australasia, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Performance Chemicals (PC), and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC) segments.