Avient Corporation (NYSE:AVNT) Short Interest Down 18.7% in February

Avient Corporation (NYSE:AVNT) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 2,439,569 shares, a decline of 18.7% from the February 12th total of 2,999,171 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 771,421 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.2 days. Approximately 2.7% of the company’s stock are short sold. Approximately 2.7% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 771,421 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.2 days.

Avient Stock Performance

AVNT stock traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $34.36. The stock had a trading volume of 763,008 shares, compared to its average volume of 688,112. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $37.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.20. Avient has a 52-week low of $27.48 and a 52-week high of $44.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.66. The stock has a market cap of $3.15 billion, a PE ratio of 38.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 1.40.

Avient (NYSE:AVNT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $760.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $750.19 million. Avient had a return on equity of 10.95% and a net margin of 2.51%.Avient’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.49 earnings per share. Avient has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.810-0.810 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.930-3.170 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Avient will post 2.85 EPS for the current year.

Avient Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.275 per share. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. Avient’s payout ratio is 123.60%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avient

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AVNT. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new position in Avient during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Avient by 342.3% during the 4th quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 942 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 729 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Avient by 54.2% during the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 967 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in Avient in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its position in Avient by 83.1% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,234 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 560 shares during the period. 95.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on AVNT shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Avient from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Zacks Research upgraded Avient from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Avient in a research note on Monday, December 29th. KeyCorp reissued a “sector weight” rating on shares of Avient in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Avient from $37.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $47.00.

About Avient

Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT) is a global provider of specialized and sustainable polymer materials, delivering color, additive and engineered solutions to a wide range of industries. The company’s core offerings include masterbatches, colorant systems, compounds and resins designed to enhance performance, aesthetics and environmental sustainability. Avient serves markets such as packaging, automotive, consumer goods, healthcare, electronics, and agriculture, tailoring products to meet stringent regulatory and end-use requirements.

Formed through a corporate rebranding in 2020 following the divestiture of PolyOne’s specialty businesses, Avient traces its heritage to a legacy of polymer innovation spanning decades.