Shares of Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE) have received an average rating of “Hold” from twenty-one brokerages covering the stock, according to Marketbeat Ratings. The consensus target price for the company stands at $54.78, reflecting a range of opinions from analysts: three rated the stock as a sell, eleven as a hold, and seven as a buy.
Recent reports from several equity analysts have further shaped the outlook for Celanese. On August 13, 2023, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a price target of $52.00 while recommending a buy rating. Just over a week later, on August 25, 2023, Alembic Global Advisors increased its target to $60.00. Conversely, Jefferies Financial Group lowered its target from $47.00 to $43.00 on September 8, 2023, maintaining a hold rating. Additionally, Royal Bank Of Canada also set a target of $43.00 on October 14, 2023, while Weiss Ratings reiterated a sell rating.
Quarterly Performance and Dividend Declaration
Celanese recently released its quarterly earnings results on November 6, 2023. The company reported earnings of $1.34 per share, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $1.27 by $0.07. Despite this positive news, the company’s revenue for the quarter was $2.42 billion, falling short of the consensus estimate of $2.51 billion. This revenue reflects an 8.6% decrease compared to the same quarter last year, when the company reported a revenue of $2.44 billion. The return on equity stood at 9.87%, while the net margin was recorded at -31.85%.
Celanese has also provided guidance for the fourth quarter of 2025, projecting earnings per share (EPS) between 0.850 and 1.000. Analysts anticipate an overall EPS of 8.79 for the current year.
In addition to financial results, Celanese declared a quarterly dividend of $0.03 per share, which was paid on November 12, 2023, to shareholders on record as of October 28, 2023. This translates to an annualized dividend of $0.12 and a yield of 0.3%. Currently, the company’s payout ratio is approximately -0.42%.
Insider Transactions and Institutional Holdings
In related news, Timothy Go, a director at Celanese, purchased 1,039 shares at an average price of $46.25 on September 8, 2023. The total value of this transaction amounted to $48,053.75, increasing his total ownership to 4,415 shares, valued at about $204,193.75. This purchase represents a 30.78% increase in his holdings. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Institutional investors have also shown significant interest in Celanese. For instance, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC increased its stake by 73.2% in the first quarter, now holding 440 shares worth approximately $25,000. Similarly, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings by 111.1% during the second quarter, acquiring a total of 513 shares valued at $28,000. Other institutional investors, such as Summit Securities Group LLC, SBI Securities Co. Ltd., and National Bank of Canada FI, have also made significant investments in Celanese, contributing to institutional ownership that currently stands at approximately 98.87% of the company’s stock.
As Celanese continues to navigate market conditions, the blend of ratings from analysts, insider transactions, and institutional investments will likely play a pivotal role in shaping its future performance.
