Koppers (NYSE:KOP) Downgraded by Zacks Research to "Strong Sell"

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 lowered shares of Koppers (NYSE:KOP - Free Report) from a hold rating to a strong sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, September 4th,Zacks.com reports.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on KOP. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and set a $50.00 price target (down from $55.00) on shares of Koppers in a research report on Monday, August 11th. Barrington Research dropped their price target on Koppers from $64.00 to $55.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research 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 assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $52.50.

Koppers Trading Up 2.6%

Shares of Koppers stock traded up $0.72 on Thursday, reaching $28.25. 64,514 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 154,073. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $31.29 and a 200-day moving average price of $29.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $557.01 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.25 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a current ratio of 2.60, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. Koppers has a fifty-two week low of $22.99 and a fifty-two week high of $39.83.

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

Koppers Announces Dividend

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

Institutional Trading of Koppers

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Byrne Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Koppers during the 1st quarter worth about $38,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Koppers during the 1st quarter worth about $49,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Koppers by 112.9% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,835 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 973 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of Koppers by 258.1% during the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,930 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 1,391 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC boosted its stake in shares of Koppers by 97,600.0% during the 1st quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 1,954 shares of the specialty chemicals company's stock worth $55,000 after acquiring an additional 1,952 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.75% of the company's stock.

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.