GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Reduce” by Brokerages

Shares of GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF) have received a consensus rating of “Reduce” from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and six have assigned a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $14.25.

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on EAF shares. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of GrafTech International from $10.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Zacks Research lowered GrafTech International from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. Wall Street Zen upgraded GrafTech International from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of GrafTech International in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GrafTech International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC grew its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 42.3% during the second quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 27,531 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 8,188 shares in the last quarter. Rathbones Group PLC acquired a new stake in GrafTech International in the first quarter valued at $35,000. CWM LLC lifted its holdings in GrafTech International by 2,978.8% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 40,517 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 39,201 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of GrafTech International during the 2nd quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its position in shares of GrafTech International by 17.0% during the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 95,810 shares of the company’s stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 13,901 shares in the last quarter. 92.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

GrafTech International Trading Up 1.8%

EAF stock opened at $14.42 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $372.32 million, a PE ratio of -1.83 and a beta of 1.73. GrafTech International has a 12-month low of $5.50 and a 12-month high of $22.60. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $14.51 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.34.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported ($1.03) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.22) by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $144.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $139.58 million. Research analysts predict that GrafTech International will post -0.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About GrafTech International

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.