- RBC Capital analyst Arun Viswanathan downgraded GrafTech International Ltd (NYSE:EAF) to Sector Perform from Outperform and lowered the price target to $7 (an upside of 9%) from $10.
- The analyst states that the downgrade reflects cost/demand headwinds and lower average realized price for LTAs in the ~$7K range (from ~$9K).
- Viswanathan mentions that given the current macro enlivenment and HRC steel prices, he sees no need for EAF’s customers to lock in LTAs and/ or to lock in LTAs at prices significantly above current spot levels.
- The analyst expects demand to wane for electrodes and electric arc furnace steel.
- He also sees macro headwinds diminishing electrode demand and the elevated risk of a recession, especially in Europe, which should result in a cyclical downturn in construction and the need for steel.
- Price Action: EAF shares are trading lower by 5.52% at $6.41 on the last check Wednesday.
Dow Jumps 150 Points; US Consumer Sentiment Surges In January
U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Dow Jones index gaining around 150 points on Friday.
The Dow traded up 0.41% to 37,621.27 while the NASDAQ rose 0.66% to 15,154.43. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.46% to 4,803.12.
