StockNews.com Upgrades Koppers (NYSE:KOP) to “Hold”

Koppers (NYSE:KOP) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

Separately, Barrington Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $64.00 target price on shares of Koppers in a report on Monday, February 24th.

Koppers Price Performance

Shares of KOP traded down $1.20 on Thursday, reaching $28.38. The stock had a trading volume of 146,011 shares, compared to its average volume of 142,740. The firm has a market capitalization of $581.35 million, a PE ratio of 8.06 and a beta of 1.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 2.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $30.43 and a 200 day moving average of $34.14. Koppers has a twelve month low of $27.00 and a twelve month high of $56.96.

Koppers (NYSE:KOP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 27th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.95 by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $477.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $497.00 million. Koppers had a net margin of 3.55% and a return on equity of 16.71%. Sell-side analysts expect that Koppers will post 4.24 EPS for the current year.

Koppers declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, February 27th that permits the company to repurchase $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the specialty chemicals company to purchase up to 16.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its position in shares of Koppers by 265.8% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 10,626 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 7,721 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in Koppers by 51.5% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 63,462 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,056,000 after purchasing an additional 21,565 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its position in Koppers by 332.1% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 33,700 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,092,000 after purchasing an additional 25,900 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its position in Koppers by 63.6% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 68,209 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $2,210,000 after purchasing an additional 26,529 shares during the period. Finally, State of Wyoming raised its position in Koppers by 66.3% in the fourth quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 4,422 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 1,763 shares during the period. 92.75% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Koppers

Koppers Holdings Inc provides treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals, and carbon compounds in the United States, Australasia, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Performance Chemicals (PC), and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC) segments.