Koppers (NYSE:KOP) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.25 EPS

Posted by Francis Steltz on Aug 6th, 2026

Koppers (NYSE:KOP – Get Free Report) posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.25, FiscalAI reports. Koppers had a net margin of 4.10% and a return on equity of 14.53%. The firm had revenue of $520.10 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $506.10 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.48 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Koppers updated its FY 2026 guidance to 3.800-4.200 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Koppers’ conference call:

Transformation and cash generation advanced: First-half operating cash flow reached a record $96 million and free cash flow was $73 million, while Catalyst delivered $33 million of year-over-year benefits and has identified more than $90 million of opportunities through 2028.
Stickney closure was accelerated: Koppers now expects to end distillation operations at the Illinois facility by September 30, 2026, targeting annual adjusted EBITDA benefits of $15 million-$20 million, $1-$1.20 of annual adjusted EPS improvement, and lower capital requirements.
Performance Chemicals and utility poles were strong: Performance Chemicals sales rose 10% excluding currency and adjusted EBITDA increased 31% to $38 million, while utility pole demand drove approximately 16% volume growth in North America and supported continued optimism around AI-related infrastructure spending.
2026 guidance was maintained at a cautious level: The company expects sales of $1.9 billion-$2.0 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $240 million-$250 million, and adjusted EPS of $3.80-$4.20, reflecting stronger Performance Chemicals results but continued pressure in Railroad Products and Services and Carbon Materials and Chemicals.
Input-cost and end-market pressures remain significant: Coal tar costs increased 12% year over year and 15% sequentially, while rail demand from Class 1 customers weakened and CMC expects a $4.6 million adverse oil-price impact in the second half; management does not expect these cost challenges to ease soon.

Koppers Stock Up 2.4%

Shares of NYSE KOP traded up $1.24 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $52.27. The company had a trading volume of 251,530 shares, compared to its average volume of 148,716. Koppers has a twelve month low of $25.00 and a twelve month high of $53.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 2.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.01 billion, a PE ratio of 13.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.35 and a beta of 1.25. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $46.25 and its 200-day moving average is $40.08.

Koppers Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 28th. Koppers’s payout ratio is currently 9.47%.

Insider Transactions at Koppers

In other Koppers news, CEO M Leroy Ball sold 3,412 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.90, for a total value of $149,786.80. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 436,243 shares in the company, valued at $19,151,067.70. The trade was a 0.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 7.28% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd raised 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 worth $797,000 after acquiring an additional 308 shares in the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP grew its holdings in shares of Koppers by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 48,228 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $1,306,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in shares of Koppers by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 11,602 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock worth $325,000 after purchasing an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 567 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in Koppers by 23.5% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,235 shares of the specialty chemicals company’s stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. 92.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on KOP shares. Singular Research raised Koppers to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Wall Street Zen raised Koppers from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Koppers in a research note on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Barrington Research reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $55.00 target price on shares of Koppers in a research note on Monday, May 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $52.50.

View Our Latest Stock Report on KOP

Koppers News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Koppers this week:

Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter adjusted results exceeded expectations: EPS was $1.37 versus the $1.12 analyst consensus, while revenue rose 3% year over year to $520.1 million, topping estimates of $506.1 million. The earnings and revenue beats are the primary reasons investors have responded favorably. Koppers Q2 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates
Positive Sentiment: Koppers outlined 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $240 million to $250 million and maintained full-year revenue guidance of approximately $1.9 billion to $2.0 billion, indicating continued expectations for solid operating performance. Koppers 2026 EBITDA Guidance
Positive Sentiment: The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.09 per share, payable September 14 to shareholders of record August 28. The dividend provides ongoing shareholder support, though its annualized yield is modest at roughly 0.7%. Koppers Quarterly Cash Dividend
Neutral Sentiment: Analysts’ longer-term estimates remain constructive, with Sidoti projecting $5.24 EPS for fiscal 2028 versus the current-year consensus of $4.13, but these projections do not materially change the immediate earnings reaction.
Negative Sentiment: Koppers reported a $147.5 million net loss, including $215.8 million in impairment, restructuring and plant-closure costs. EPS also declined from $1.48 in the year-ago quarter, highlighting the effect of one-time charges and ongoing operational pressure. Koppers Second Quarter 2026 Results
Negative Sentiment: The company is accelerating the closure of its Illinois plant and plans to shift production to Denmark. While the move may improve efficiency over time, near-term execution risk, transition costs and potential disruption could weigh on sentiment. Koppers Accelerates Illinois Plant Closure
Negative Sentiment: Full-year EPS guidance of $3.80 to $4.20 brackets the $4.10 consensus estimate, leaving room for a result below expectations despite the quarterly beat.

About Koppers

(Get Free Report)

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.