Element Solutions (NYSE:ESI) Downgraded to Hold at StockNews.com

Element Solutions (NYSE:ESI - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report issued on Thursday.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on ESI. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Element Solutions from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Mizuho lowered their price target on Element Solutions from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Element Solutions from $22.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. Wolfe Research began coverage on Element Solutions in a research note on Friday, March 1st. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Element Solutions from a "c+" rating to a "b" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $25.60.

Element Solutions Trading Down 0.4 %

ESI traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $25.19. 954,960 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,328,697. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.40, a PEG ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 1.32. Element Solutions has a one year low of $17.08 and a one year high of $25.81. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $23.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $21.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 2.43 and a current ratio of 3.24.

Element Solutions (NYSE:ESI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.32. Element Solutions had a net margin of 5.06% and a return on equity of 13.51%. The business had revenue of $573.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $590.43 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.29 EPS. Element Solutions's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Element Solutions will post 1.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Element Solutions

In other news, EVP Michael Goralski sold 11,604 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total value of $269,212.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 143,446 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,327,947.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Michael Goralski sold 11,604 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total value of $269,212.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 143,446 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,327,947.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Carey J. Dorman sold 1,410 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.20, for a total value of $32,712.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 177,113 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,109,021.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 97,203 shares of company stock valued at $2,255,110 in the last ninety days. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Element Solutions

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its position in shares of Element Solutions by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 98,021 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,922,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in Element Solutions by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 34,115 shares of the company's stock worth $789,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in Element Solutions by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 15,721 shares of the company's stock worth $364,000 after purchasing an additional 598 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Element Solutions by 85.6% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,318 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 608 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in Element Solutions by 9.8% in the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,974 shares of the company's stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 622 shares during the period. 92.32% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Element Solutions Company Profile

Element Solutions Inc operates as a specialty chemicals company in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Electronics, and Industrial & Specialty. The Electronics segment researches, formulates, and sells specialty chemicals and materials for various types of electronics hardware products.

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