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Koppers Holdings Inc. Announces Increase to Quarterly Cash Dividend

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Koppers Holdings Inc. (KOP) announces a 17% increase in the planned quarterly dividend rate for 2024, from $0.06 to $0.07 per share of common stock. The annual dividend rate for 2024 rises to $0.28 per share. CEO Leroy Ball expresses confidence in the company's financial stability and commitment to growth and shareholder returns.
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The announcement of Koppers Holdings Inc.'s dividend increase is a strong signal to the market, reflecting the company's financial health and management's confidence in its ability to generate substantial cash flow. A 17 percent increase in dividend payout is significant, as it surpasses the average dividend growth rate for S&P 500 companies, which historically hovers around the low single digits. This could potentially attract income-focused investors and support the stock price, as higher dividends often indicate a stable and shareholder-friendly company.

Moreover, the commitment to disciplined investments for growth while returning capital to shareholders suggests a balanced approach to capital allocation. This balance is crucial for sustaining growth without compromising the ability to reward shareholders. However, investors should monitor the company's future earnings and cash flow statements to ensure that the increased dividend is sustainable and does not compromise the company's long-term investment capacity.

In the context of the broader market, Koppers Holdings Inc.'s dividend increase may be interpreted as a positive development, especially in an industry where cash flow consistency is valued. The wood products and chemicals sector is capital intensive and companies that can maintain a steady cash flow to support dividends are often seen as more resilient to market volatility. The timing of this announcement, coupled with the CEO's statement, could be strategically aimed at positioning Koppers as a reliable investment amidst uncertain economic conditions.

The decision to increase dividends may also reflect an industry trend where companies are focusing on shareholder returns as a means of differentiating themselves in a competitive market. However, it is essential to consider industry-specific risks such as commodity price fluctuations and regulatory changes that could impact future profitability and, consequently, dividend sustainability.

From an economic perspective, the dividend increase announcement by Koppers Holdings Inc. comes at a time when investors may be seeking safer havens due to potential economic headwinds. Dividend-paying stocks are often considered defensive investments, particularly attractive during periods of low-interest rates or market uncertainty. The increase in dividends could be seen as a strategic move to capitalize on this investor sentiment.

However, it is important to assess the macroeconomic factors that could affect Koppers' business operations. Economic downturns, shifts in trade policies and changes in raw material costs could all impact the company's financial performance. While the current increase in dividends reflects a positive outlook, stakeholders should remain cognizant of these broader economic indicators that could influence the company's ability to maintain or increase dividends in the future.

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KOP), an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 17 percent increase in the planned quarterly dividend rate for 2024, from $0.06 t$0.07 per share of Koppers common stock. A quarterly dividend will be paid on March 25, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on March 8, 2024.

At this quarterly dividend rate, subject to the standard quarterly review by the Board of Directors, the annual dividend rate for 2024 increases to $0.28 per share. 

Chief Executive Officer Leroy Ball said, "This latest increase to our dividend validates our confidence that Koppers is on solid ground and able to continue generating strong cash flows. With an ongoing focus on optimizing our financial flexibility, we will continue to make disciplined investments to drive growth while returning capital to shareholders."

Koppers expects to pay regular quarterly dividends, with future declarations subject to approval by its Board of Directors and the Board's determination that the declaration of dividends remains in the best interests of Koppers and its shareholders. The decision of whether to pay future dividends and the amount of any such dividends will be based on the Company's financial position, results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements, the requirements of applicable law and any other factors the Board of Directors may deem relevant.

About Koppers

Koppers, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds. Our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries.  We serve our customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities located in North America, South America, Australasia, and Europe. The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KOP."

For more information, visit: www.koppers.com. Inquiries from the media should be directed to Ms. Jessica Franklin Black at BlackJF@koppers.com or 412-227-2025. Inquiries from the investment community should be directed to Ms. Quynh McGuire at McGuireQT@koppers.com or 412-227-2049.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may include, but are not limited to, statements about sales levels, acquisitions, restructuring, declines in the value of Koppers assets and the effect of any resulting impairment charges, profitability and anticipated expenses and cash outflows. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties.

All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and words such as "outlook," "guidance," "forecast," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "may," "will," "should," "continue," "plan," "potential," "intend," "likely," or other similar words or phrases are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement contained herein, in other press releases, written statements or other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or in Koppers communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, phone calls and conference calls, regarding future dividends, expectations with respect to sales, earnings, cash flows, operating efficiencies, restructurings, the benefits of acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures or other matters as well as financings and debt reduction, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies.

Many of these risks, uncertainties and contingencies are beyond our control, and may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. Factors that might affect such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the impact of changes in commodity prices, such as oil and copper, on product margins; general economic and business conditions; potential difficulties in protecting our intellectual property; the ratings on our debt and our ability to repay or refinance our outstanding indebtedness as it matures; our ability to operate within the limitations of our debt covenants; unexpected business disruptions; potential impairment of our goodwill and/or long-lived assets; demand for Koppers goods and services; competitive conditions; capital market conditions, including interest rates, borrowing costs and foreign currency rate fluctuations; availability and fluctuations in the prices of key raw materials; disruptions and inefficiencies in the supply chain; economic, political and environmental conditions in international markets; changes in laws; the impact of environmental laws and regulations; parties' failure to perform their indemnity obligations to us; unfavorable resolution of claims against us, as well as those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Koppers, particularly our latest annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings by Koppers with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after that date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For Information:

Quynh McGuire, Vice President, Investor Relations


412 227 2049


McGuireQT@koppers.com

 

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SOURCE KOPPERS HOLDINGS INC.

The new planned quarterly dividend rate for 2024 is $0.07 per share, reflecting a 17% increase from the previous rate of $0.06 per share.

The quarterly dividend will be paid on March 25, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of trading on March 8, 2024.

The annual dividend rate for 2024 is $0.28 per share.

The Chief Executive Officer of Koppers Holdings Inc. is Leroy Ball.

Koppers plans to focus on optimizing financial flexibility, making disciplined investments for growth, and returning capital to shareholders.

Future dividend payments by Koppers will be based on the company's financial position, results of operations, cash flows, capital requirements, applicable law, and other relevant factors deemed by the Board of Directors.
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About KOP

koppers, headquartered in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, is a global wood preservation technology company that creates safe and environmentally responsible solutions to solve our customer’s most important challenges. our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end-markets including railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber and construction industries. with more than 2,100 employees, we maintain a global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities in north america, south america, australasia, china and europe. koppers is committed to living a culture of zero harm that places the care of our people, our environment and our communities first at all times. the company is also a member of the american chemistry council and dedicated to adopting its responsible care® initiative at all of our locations worldwide.