Koppers (NYSE:KOP) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

Koppers (NYSE:KOP) released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.11, Briefing.com reports. Koppers had a return on equity of 16.48% and a net margin of 0.84%.The company had revenue of $432.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $445.00 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.77 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Koppers updated its FY 2026 guidance to 4.200-5.000 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Koppers’ conference call:

• Koppers delivered a strong 2025 with adjusted EBITDA of $256.7 million and a 13.7% margin (a company high as‑reported), $4.07 adjusted EPS, $122.5 million operating cash flow, $38.2 million of buybacks and a raised quarterly dividend; net leverage was 3.4x with a goal of 2–3x.
• The company’s transformation program, Catalyst, produced $46 million of benefits in 2025 and management now expects up to $75 million of cumulative benefits across 2026–2028, targeting $20–40 million in 2026 and a mid‑teens margin run rate by 2028.
• Performance Chemicals is forecast to grow top line ~11% in 2026 from market‑share gains and new commercial wins, but results remain sensitive to copper and tariff risk—management says continued high copper could necessitate roughly a $50 million pricing pass‑through despite hedging.
• Utility & Industrial Products outlook is constructive (AI, data centers, EVs driving electrical demand), and a small Douglas fir procurement acquisition secures a key supply, while cost and production consolidations (including idling Vance plant) should drive most 2026 UIP improvements.
• The CMMC segment faces near‑term headwinds—Q4 sales and EBITDA fell, global coal‑tar costs are higher, a U.S. tar supplier exit reduces throughput, and pricing pressure may require capacity rationalization with margin challenges persisting into 2026.

Koppers Price Performance

Koppers stock traded up $2.78 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $37.30. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 186,675 shares, compared to its average volume of 152,136. Koppers has a 12 month low of $22.99 and a 12 month high of $37.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The company has a market capitalization of $731.45 million, a PE ratio of 46.63 and a beta of 1.40. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $30.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.07.

Koppers Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 6th. This is an increase from Koppers’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.0%. Koppers’s dividend payout ratio is presently 40.00%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Koppers

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd lifted its stake in Koppers by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd now owns 29,423 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $797,000 after purchasing an additional 308 shares during the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP increased its holdings in shares of Koppers by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 48,228 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,306,000 after buying an additional 332 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Koppers by 3.2% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 11,602 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $325,000 after buying an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Koppers by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 62,361 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $1,689,000 after acquiring an additional 567 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of Koppers by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,235 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.75% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

KOP has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded Koppers from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Barrington Research reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Koppers in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Koppers from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $52.50.

Koppers Company Profile

Koppers Company, Inc is a global specialty chemicals and materials manufacturer serving diverse industrial markets. The company operates through two primary segments: Carbon Materials & Chemicals, which produces a range of coal tar–based products, phenolic specialties and carbon compounds; and Railroad Products & Services, which offers wood treating and infrastructure services for rail and utility customers.

In its Carbon Materials & Chemicals segment, Koppers supplies coal tar pitch, refined creosote, coal tar‐based distillates and phenolic resins used in aluminum smelting, graphite electrode manufacture, carbon fiber production, and water treatment applications.