Jefferies Cuts Price Targets on GrafTech International (GTI), Remains Bullish on Growth
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Jefferies is maintaining its Buy rating on shares of GrafTech International (NYSE: GTI), but is cutting its price target from $28 to $26.
The company reported strong earnings with sales and earnings topping expectations. Management did lower its 2011 EBITDA guidance from its previous guidance of $285 million to $275-$285 million. The firm notes the lower guidance is due to uncertainty in light of increased business risks given global economic uncertainty.
Management also announced that EAF steel production is operating at all-time highs and is expected to see another 5 percent growth in 2012.
An analyst at Jefferies comments, "We have reduced our EPS estimate to reflect lower profitability in GTI's non-core ES business given recently emerging negative demand trends, most notably for solar markets. Importantly, our view on the strong earnings potential of the GTI’s core electrode and needle coke operations remains strongly intact and we continue to believe our pricing assumptions are conservative and potentially beatable for next year."
Jefferies has lowered its Q1 and FY12 EPS estimates from $0.44 and $2.00 to $0.42 and $1.87.
For more ratings news on GrafTech International click here and for the rating history of GrafTech International click here.
Shares of GrafTech International closed at $16.40 yesterday, with a 52 week range of $12.11-$23.89.
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The company reported strong earnings with sales and earnings topping expectations. Management did lower its 2011 EBITDA guidance from its previous guidance of $285 million to $275-$285 million. The firm notes the lower guidance is due to uncertainty in light of increased business risks given global economic uncertainty.
Management also announced that EAF steel production is operating at all-time highs and is expected to see another 5 percent growth in 2012.
An analyst at Jefferies comments, "We have reduced our EPS estimate to reflect lower profitability in GTI's non-core ES business given recently emerging negative demand trends, most notably for solar markets. Importantly, our view on the strong earnings potential of the GTI’s core electrode and needle coke operations remains strongly intact and we continue to believe our pricing assumptions are conservative and potentially beatable for next year."
Jefferies has lowered its Q1 and FY12 EPS estimates from $0.44 and $2.00 to $0.42 and $1.87.
For more ratings news on GrafTech International click here and for the rating history of GrafTech International click here.
Shares of GrafTech International closed at $16.40 yesterday, with a 52 week range of $12.11-$23.89.
Discover Wall Street's best ratings calls with the pros - Ratings Insider Elite. Free Trial!
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