Quaker Chemical (NYSE:KWR) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Here’s What Happened

Quaker Chemical Co. (NYSE:KWR) shares reached a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $143.76 and last traded at $144.13, with a volume of 185770 shares. The stock had previously closed at $148.04.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on KWR shares. StockNews.com upgraded Quaker Chemical from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 28th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Quaker Chemical from $195.00 to $180.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Quaker Chemical from $190.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Quaker Chemical from $190.00 to $182.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th.

Quaker Chemical Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 1.88 and a current ratio of 2.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.47 billion, a PE ratio of 20.32, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.38. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $159.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $165.86.

Quaker Chemical (NYSE:KWR) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.08 by ($0.19). The company had revenue of $462.27 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $469.17 million. Quaker Chemical had a net margin of 6.58% and a return on equity of 10.10%. Quaker Chemical’s revenue for the quarter was down 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.05 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Quaker Chemical Co. will post 7.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Quaker Chemical Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Friday, January 17th will be given a dividend of $0.485 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 17th. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.40%. Quaker Chemical’s payout ratio is 28.45%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Quaker Chemical

In related news, EVP Jeewat Bijlani sold 645 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $165.98, for a total transaction of $107,057.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,747 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $787,907.06. This represents a 11.96 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP David Slinkman sold 1,700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $167.80, for a total value of $285,260.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,825 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $474,035. This represents a 37.57 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Quaker Chemical

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of KWR. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its stake in Quaker Chemical by 105.3% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 156 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp increased its holdings in shares of Quaker Chemical by 36.8% in the second quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 286 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the period. KBC Group NV raised its stake in shares of Quaker Chemical by 50.9% in the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 525 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $88,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Quaker Chemical during the second quarter worth about $136,000. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. boosted its position in Quaker Chemical by 100.0% in the third quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. now owns 906 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $153,000 after buying an additional 453 shares during the last quarter. 77.46% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Quaker Chemical

Quaker Chemical Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets various formulated specialty chemical products for a range of heavy industrial and manufacturing applications in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers metal removal fluids, cleaning fluids, corrosion inhibitors, metal drawing and forming fluids, die-cast mold releases, heat treatment and quenchants, metal forging fluids, hydraulic fluids, specialty greases, offshore sub-sea energy control fluids, rolling lubricants, rod and wire drawing fluids, and surface treatment chemicals.