Avient (NYSE:AVNT) Shares Gap Down - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Avient shares fell sharply, opening at $37.72 versus a previous close of $40.98 and trading about 8% lower. The stock’s last reported price was $38.00.
• Despite the decline, analyst sentiment remains positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $46.71, implying potential upside from current levels.
• Avient reported quarterly earnings and revenue above expectations, raised its quarterly dividend to $0.2825 per share, and has substantial institutional ownership at 95.48%.

Shares of Avient Corporation (NYSE:AVNT - Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Friday. The stock had previously closed at $40.98, but opened at $37.72. Avient shares last traded at $38.0020, with a volume of 315,131 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVNT has been the topic of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Avient from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a research report on Friday, September 18th. Zacks Research raised shares of Avient from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Avient from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Avient from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Seaport Research Partners reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $54.00 price objective on shares of Avient in a research note on Friday, August 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $46.71.

Avient Stock Down 8.0%

The business's fifty day moving average price is $42.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.19, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.28.

Avient (NYSE:AVNT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $917.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $898.53 million. Avient had a net margin of 5.10% and a return on equity of 11.64%. Avient's revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.80 EPS. Avient has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.100-3.250 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 0.800-0.800 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Avient Corporation will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Avient Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.2825 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 11th. This represents a $1.13 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. This is a boost from Avient's previous quarterly dividend of $0.2750. Avient's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.08%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Avient during the 2nd quarter worth about $437,002,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Avient by 4.0% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,973,887 shares of the company's stock valued at $180,546,000 after purchasing an additional 192,788 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its position in shares of Avient by 11.1% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,090,286 shares of the company's stock valued at $127,781,000 after purchasing an additional 410,112 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Avient by 2.7% during the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,012,847 shares of the company's stock worth $111,355,000 after purchasing an additional 78,938 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in shares of Avient by 96.0% during the first quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,411,254 shares of the company's stock worth $51,229,000 after purchasing an additional 691,316 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.48% of the company's stock.

Avient Company Profile

Avient Corporation NYSE: AVNT is a global materials company that develops and manufactures specialized polymer products and solutions. Its portfolio includes engineered materials, specialty formulations, colorants, additives, inks, and other technologies designed to improve the performance, appearance, sustainability, and processing of plastics and other materials.

The company serves customers across a range of industries, including packaging, transportation, healthcare, consumer products, electronics, building and construction, and energy.

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