Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KOP) Lowers Guidance While Signals Stabilizing Margins

Koppers shows margin improvement amid softer demand and a tightened full-year outlook; recent capital returns and cash generation shape a cautiously constructive near-term posture.

Recent News

On August 7, 2025 the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, payable September 15, 2025 to holders of record August 29, 2025. On August 8, 2025 the company published Q2 slides and adjusted full-year guidance lower, citing weaker end-market demand and trimming EBITDA expectations; management highlighted improved adjusted EBITDA margins despite a sales decline and noted cash deployment toward dividends, repurchases and debt reduction. The company also signaled extended credit facility flexibility while reporting net leverage above targeted ranges.

Technical Analysis

ADX at 25.44 signals a strong trend strength without directional bias on its own; paired with DI+ increasing (18.55) and DI- decreasing (19.65), directional pressure has turned bullish even though DI- sits marginally higher than DI+.

MACD reads -0.25 and trends higher while the signal line sits at -0.51, producing a MACD cross above the signal line — a bullish momentum inflection that aligns with the accelerating MACD trend.

MRO stands at -14.21 with a dip-and-reversal profile; the negative MRO implies price below target and suggests potential upward pressure toward equilibrium.

RSI at 45.84 and rising indicates recovering momentum from neutral territory rather than an overbought condition, supporting a near-term bias toward consolidation or modest upside.

Price sits at $28.72 versus the 50-day average $28.26 and below the 200-day average $29.48; the 12-day EMA shows a dip-and-reversal and the 26-day EMA at $27.66, signaling short-term strength beneath longer-term resistance. SuperTrend lower support at $27.02 and Bollinger bands between $26.15 and $28.72 define a contained trading range with upside capped near the upper band.

Ichimoku levels place Tenkan at $27.60 and Kijun at $28.03; price above Kijun supports short-term bullish bias while Senkou A ($29.33) and Senkou B ($31.11) keep the cloud overhead as a medium-term resistance zone.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Total revenue for the period equals $504,800,000 with reported revenue growth of 10.58% and revenue growth year-over-year of -19.74%; the company shows mixed top-line dynamics across intervals while operating cash flow totaled $50,500,000 and free cash flow $38,400,000, supporting capital returns. QoQ revenue change for the most recent period registers -3.46% and revenue growth YoY records -19.74%.

Profitability metrics present a tiered profile: gross margin at 22.62%, operating margin at 11.23%, and EBIT margin at 8.16%. EBIT margin compares below the industry peer mean of 23.402% and below the industry peer median of 28.405%, though it sits above the industry peer low of -4.454%.

EPS came in at $1.48 versus an estimate of $1.49, an EPS surprise of -0.67% and an EPS difference of -$0.01. The current PE ratio stands at 21.57 with a forward PE of 27.28; price-to-book registers 1.15 while price-to-sales equals 1.20. WMDST values the stock as under-valued based on the firm’s free cash flow yield of 6.33% versus the industry peer mean of 0.71% and an enterprise value of $1,638,041,015 against market capitalization of $606,941,015.

Balance-sheet and leverage signals require attention: total debt equals $1,069,500,000 with net debt of $929,400,000, yielding debt-to-EBITDA of 18.07 and debt-to-equity of 2.03; interest coverage stands at 2.38. Current ratio measures 2.60 and quick ratio 1.11, providing near-term liquidity cushion even as leverage exceeds typical peer medians.

Operational efficiency shows asset turnover at 0.264 and days inventory outstanding at 105.2; cash conversion cycle days at 101.64 sit inside the industry peer range high but above the industry peer mean, reflecting working capital tied up in inventory and receivables. Cash conversion ratio of 1.16 and cash flow to earnings of 2.80 signal strong cash conversion relative to reported net income.

Valuation context: enterprise multiple sits near 27.67 while EV/Revenue and free-cash-flow metrics imply the market discounts near-term growth; free cash flow yield and demonstrated cash returns (dividend and repurchase program) underlie WMDST’s under-valued determination despite elevated leverage and softened top-line guidance.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-06-30
REPORT DATE: 2025-08-08
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2025-11-05
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 33.3 M
 Operating Cash Flow 50.5 M
 Capital Expenditures -12.10 M
 Change In Working Capital 11.3 M
 Dividends Paid -1.60 M
 Cash Flow Delta 5.1 M
 End Period Cash Flow 38.4 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 504.8 M
 Forward Revenue 167.6 M
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 390.6 M
 Depreciation 18.0 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 18.0 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 448.1 M
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 114.2 M
 EBITDA 59.2 M
 EBIT 41.2 M
 Operating Income 56.7 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense 17.3 M
 Net Interest Income -17.30 M
 Income Before Tax 23.9 M
 Tax Provision 7.5 M
 Tax Rate 31.381 %
 Net Income 16.4 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 16.4 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 1.49
 EPS Actual 1.48
 EPS Difference -0.01
 EPS Surprise -0.671 %
 Forward EPS 1.10
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 1.9 B
 Intangible Assets 430.5 M
 Net Tangible Assets 96.3 M
 Total Current Assets 708.0 M
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 38.4 M
 Cash 38.4 M
 Net Receivables 211.7 M
 Inventory 405.4 M
 Long-Term Investments 28.1 M
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 168.7 M
 Short-Term Debt 4.9 M
 Total Current Liabilities 272.3 M
 Net Debt 929.4 M
 Total Debt 1.1 B
 Total Liabilities 1.4 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 526.8 M
 Retained Earnings 489.3 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 26.72
 Shares Outstanding 19.713 M
 Revenue Per-Share 25.61
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 606.9 M
 Enterprise Value 1.6 B
 Enterprise Multiple 27.67
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -69.621 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 168.325 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 123.612
median: 72.016
mean: 63.34
KOP: 27.67
low: -27.186
 EV/R 3.245
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 3.665
 Asset To Liability 1.376
 Debt To Capital 0.67
 Debt To Assets 0.554
Debt To Assets QoQ -2.043 %
Debt To Assets YoY 21453.307 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.671
KOP: 0.554
mean: 0.358
median: 0.301
low: 0.006
 Debt To Equity 2.03
Debt To Equity QoQ -5.441 %
Debt To Equity YoY 20573.931 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 4.382
KOP: 2.03
mean: 1.208
median: 0.673
low: -2.382
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 1.152
Price To Book QoQ 4.53 %
Price To Book YoY -28.936 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 5.724
median: 5.724
mean: 4.402
KOP: 1.152
low: -2.623
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 21.566
Price To Earnings QoQ -44.2 %
Price To Earnings YoY -27.1 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 113.355
median: 102.718
mean: 86.242
KOP: 21.566
low: -69.902
 PE/G Ratio -0.068
 Price To Sales (P/S) 1.202
Price To Sales QoQ 0.0 %
Price To Sales YoY -17.975 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 25.954
median: 21.249
mean: 17.715
low: 1.299
KOP: 1.202
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 27.276
Forward PE/G -0.086
Forward P/S 3.621
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage -658.444
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.264
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 9.405 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY -11.033 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.48
KOP: 0.264
mean: 0.145
median: 0.101
low: 0.002
 Receivables Turnover 2.424
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 5.297 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY -4.796 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 3.294
KOP: 2.424
mean: 1.77
median: 1.669
low: 0.464
 Inventory Turnover 0.966
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ 11.268 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY -12.369 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 3.403
median: 2.097
mean: 1.85
KOP: 0.966
low: 0.577
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 37.644
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 101.639
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ 6.553 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY 21.263 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 143.481
KOP: 101.639
median: 44.435
mean: 33.762
low: -58.861
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio 1.159
 CapEx To Revenue -0.024
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.672
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 1.5 B
 Net Invested Capital 1.5 B
 Invested Capital 1.5 B
 Net Tangible Assets 96.3 M
 Net Working Capital 435.7 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.141
 Current Ratio 2.6
Current Ratio QoQ -1.454 %
Current Ratio YoY 2.684 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 3.224
KOP: 2.6
mean: 1.178
median: 0.926
low: 0.717
 Quick Ratio 1.111
Quick Ratio QoQ 1.032 %
Quick Ratio YoY -0.783 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 2.843
KOP: 1.111
mean: 0.905
median: 0.782
low: 0.442
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 18.066
 Cost Of Debt 1.11 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 2.381
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -6689.651 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -14.828 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 36.015
mean: 21.5
median: 15.508
KOP: 2.381
low: -7.177
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.169
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 41.228
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 10.25
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.098
 Dividend Rate 0.08
 Dividend Yield 0.003
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 2.116 %
 Revenue Growth 10.581 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -346.184 %
Revenue Growth YoY -19.738 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 41.002 %
KOP: 10.581 %
mean: 8.926 %
median: 4.721 %
low: -26.89 %
 Earnings Growth -317.647 %
Earnings Growth QoQ 3976.579 %
Earnings Growth YoY -366.136 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 475.0 %
mean: 37.053 %
median: 16.524 %
low: -161.905 %
KOP: -317.647 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 22.623 %
Gross Margin QoQ -2.386 %
Gross Margin YoY 4.78 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 55.786 %
median: 49.311 %
mean: 42.355 %
KOP: 22.623 %
low: 5.77 %
 EBIT Margin 8.162 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -6330.534 %
EBIT Margin YoY -20.192 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 35.397 %
median: 28.405 %
mean: 23.402 %
KOP: 8.162 %
low: -4.454 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 11.232 %
Return On Sales QoQ -8674.046 %
Return On Sales YoY 9.827 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 34.18 %
median: 25.553 %
mean: 22.225 %
KOP: 11.232 %
low: -0.148 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) 38.4 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield 6.327 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -193.858 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY 417.334 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 9.3 %
KOP: 6.327 %
mean: 0.708 %
median: 0.433 %
low: -6.232 %
 Free Cash Growth -203.784 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ 22.795 %
Free Cash Growth YoY 61.521 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 134.666 %
median: 7.071 %
mean: -113.394 %
KOP: -203.784 %
low: -471.845 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 2.341
 Cash Flow Margin 9.113 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 2.805
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.02
 Return On Assets (ROA) 0.858 %
Return On Assets QoQ -216.735 %
Return On Assets YoY -39.278 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 3.22 %
mean: 2.101 %
median: 2.093 %
KOP: 0.858 %
low: -1.434 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 2.484 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.031
Return On Equity QoQ -211.537 %
Return On Equity YoY -40.851 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.171
mean: 0.066
median: 0.046
KOP: 0.031
low: -0.068
 DuPont ROE 3.201 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 1.892 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -5833.333 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -101.992 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 6.532 %
mean: 3.307 %
median: 2.83 %
KOP: 1.892 %
low: -1.079 %

Six-Week Outlook

Technical momentum leans modestly bullish: MACD crossed above its signal, DI+ rising while DI- falls, rising RSI from mid-40s and EMA dip-and-reversal align toward consolidation with a bias to the upside. Short-term resistance clusters near the 200-day average and the upper Bollinger band, while support sits around the SuperTrend lower at $27.02 and the 50-day average.

Fundamentals present a mixed risk/reward: improved margins and positive free cash flow underpin a constructive valuation case, but lowered guidance and elevated leverage increase volatility risk. Expect a period of range-bound action with occasional bullish extensions if momentum sustains and corporate cash deployment (dividend, repurchases) continues to support investor sentiment.

About Koppers Holdings Inc.

Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KOP) is a dynamic leader in the production and supply of treated wood products, wood preservation chemicals, and carbon compounds, with a global footprint spanning the United States, Australasia, and Europe. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Koppers operates through three core segments: Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS), Performance Chemicals (PC), and Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC). The RUPS segment is dedicated to enhancing the railroad and utility sectors by providing essential products such as treated crossties, switch ties, and rail joint bars. It also offers specialized services including engineering, design, and inspection for railroad infrastructure. In the Performance Chemicals segment, Koppers excels in developing and marketing innovative copper-based wood preservatives. These chemicals are crucial for a variety of applications, from residential decking and fencing to utility poles and agricultural uses, ensuring durability and safety. The CMC segment focuses on producing critical carbon compounds, such as creosote and carbon pitch, which are integral to industries like aluminum, steel, and rubber. Additionally, it supplies naphthalene and phthalic anhydride for diverse industrial applications. Koppers is committed to sustainability and innovation, serving a broad range of industries with products that enhance infrastructure and improve quality of life.



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