GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) Shares Up 9.1% - Time to Buy?

GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) shares rose 9.1% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $1.99 and last traded at $1.99. Approximately 208,188 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 3,162,537 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.82.

Analyst Ratings Changes

EAF has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of GrafTech International from a "neutral" rating to an "underweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of GrafTech International from $1.20 to $1.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1.75.

GrafTech International Trading Up 8.0 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 57.38, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 4.22. The company has a market capitalization of $505.33 million, a P/E ratio of -1.75 and a beta of 0.98. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $1.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.22.

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 26th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.11) by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $137.33 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $122.48 million. GrafTech International had a negative net margin of 50.11% and a negative return on equity of 121.77%. Research analysts predict that GrafTech International Ltd. will post -0.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of GrafTech International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of GrafTech International during the 4th quarter worth $160,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of GrafTech International by 396.4% in the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 104,200 shares of the company's stock valued at $144,000 after buying an additional 83,209 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in shares of GrafTech International by 12.0% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 123,395 shares of the company's stock worth $170,000 after buying an additional 13,203 shares during the last quarter. Fore Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 25.0% during the 1st quarter. Fore Capital LLC now owns 100,000 shares of the company's stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in GrafTech International by 43.2% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 195,665 shares of the company's stock valued at $270,000 after acquiring an additional 59,013 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.83% of the company's stock.

GrafTech International Company Profile

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.