GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) Releases Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.01 EPS

GrafTech International (NYSE:EAF) released its earnings results on Friday. The company reported ($1.47) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.46) by ($0.01), Zacks reports.

Here are the key takeaways from GrafTech International’s conference call:

• GrafTech said Q2 sales volume rose 8% year over year and production hit its highest quarterly utilization since 2022 at 74%, while management reaffirmed full-year sales growth expectations of 5% to 10%.
• The company’s pricing actions are starting to gain traction, with new customer commitments reportedly averaging more than 15% above pre-announcement levels, though most 2026 volume is already booked so the benefit will largely flow through over time.
• GrafTech reiterated its goal for a modest year-over-year reduction in cash COGS, helped by lower unit costs, higher utilization, and productivity improvements, despite inflation in energy, raw materials, and logistics.
• Management highlighted improving steel market conditions outside China and supportive trade policy, especially in the U.S. and Europe, as a key demand backdrop for graphite electrodes and a potential tailwind for future volumes.
• The company emphasized rising needle coke and decant oil costs tied to Middle East disruptions, but said its vertical integration and U.S.-based captive supply give it some protection and could support higher electrode pricing over time.

GrafTech International Stock Up 9.5%

Shares of NYSE EAF traded up $0.68 on Friday, hitting $7.78. The company had a trading volume of 205,535 shares, compared to its average volume of 338,805. GrafTech International has a 12-month low of $4.92 and a 12-month high of $20.32. The business has a 50 day moving average of $7.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $202.54 million, a P/E ratio of -0.89 and a beta of 1.84.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings raised shares of GrafTech International from a “sell (e+)” rating to a “sell (d-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Zacks Research cut shares of GrafTech International from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an “underweight” rating on shares of GrafTech International in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on GrafTech International from $6.00 to $8.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $10.00 price objective on shares of GrafTech International in a report on Tuesday, May 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $10.67.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GrafTech International

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EAF. Marshall Wace LLP grew its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 132.8% during the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,782,531 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,699,000 after acquiring an additional 1,587,052 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its position in shares of GrafTech International by 357.6% during the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,678,655 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,633,000 after acquiring an additional 1,311,797 shares during the last quarter. Sender Co & Partners Inc. lifted its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 169.2% in the second quarter. Sender Co & Partners Inc. now owns 1,286,455 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,251,000 after acquiring an additional 808,615 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of GrafTech International by 5,083.2% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 635,663 shares of the company’s stock worth $556,000 after acquiring an additional 623,399 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in GrafTech International by 10.7% in the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 5,673,093 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,518,000 after purchasing an additional 546,177 shares during the last quarter. 92.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About GrafTech International

GrafTech International (NYSE: EAF) is a leading global manufacturer of graphite electrodes and other specialty graphite products used primarily in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) for steel production. The company’s core offerings include ultrahigh-power, high-power and regular power electrodes, along with related accessories such as graphite shapes and heterogeneous carbon materials. These products play a critical role in steelmaking by conducting the high electrical currents required to melt scrap steel efficiently and with reduced environmental impact compared to traditional blast furnace methods.

With a manufacturing footprint spanning North America, Europe and Asia, GrafTech serves steel producers and foundries worldwide.