GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) Shares Up 18.6% – Still a Buy?

GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE:EAF)’s share price traded up 18.6% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $2.15 and last traded at $2.10. 969,864 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 69% from the average session volume of 3,110,191 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.77.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut GrafTech International from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 16th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of GrafTech International from $1.20 to $1.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $1.75.

GrafTech International Stock Up 15.3 %

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $1.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.24. The stock has a market cap of $524.62 million, a P/E ratio of -1.82 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 57.38, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 4.22.

Institutional Trading of GrafTech International

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EAF. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its position in GrafTech International by 58.4% during the first quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 25,535 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 9,416 shares during the period. Paloma Partners Management Co bought a new position in shares of GrafTech International in the 1st quarter valued at $76,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of GrafTech International by 113.3% during the 3rd quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 61,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $81,000 after buying an additional 32,450 shares in the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd lifted its position in shares of GrafTech International by 11.3% during the 1st quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 81,219 shares of the company’s stock worth $113,000 after buying an additional 8,271 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd boosted its stake in GrafTech International by 179.6% in the second quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 135,485 shares of the company’s stock valued at $131,000 after buying an additional 87,027 shares in the last quarter. 92.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.