Owens-Illinois, Inc.  (OI Quick QuoteOI - Free Report) continues to benefit from successful joint venture and acquisitions. Further, positive trends in volumes, efforts to improve productivity across all businesses, functions, processes and geographies will help garner higher profits despite higher expenses.

 

Currently, the manufacturer of glass containers carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Here's why investors should hold on to the stock at present.

 

 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019 reflects year-over-year growth of 6.0% and 6.6%, respectively. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 5.7% holds promise.

 

 

 

The company outperformed the industry it belongs to in the past year. The stock has gained 10.8% while the industry dipped 0.2%.

 

 

Owens-Illinois’ trailing 12-month ROE supports its growth potential. The company’s ROE of 53.6% compares favorably with the industry’s average ROE of 50.2%, reflecting that it is more efficient in using shareholders’ funds.

 

 

The company currently has a VGM score of A. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum. The score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. The VGM Score of A along with some other key metrics makes the company a solid choice for investors.

 

 

Owens-Illinois is currently trading at a trailing 12-months P/E multiple of 8.5 while the industry’s average is pegged at 9.7. Consequently, the company is undervalued in comparison with its industry peers.

 

 

The company has an impressive earnings history having outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the preceding four quarters, with an average beat of 7.1%.

 

 

In 2018, positive trends in volumes and focus on Total Systems Costs (“TSC”) is likely to lead to higher earnings and cash flow. The company is improving productivity across all businesses, functions, processes and geographies. Its focus on TSC contributed approximately $39 million during 2017.

 

The company guides adjusted earnings in the range of $2.75-$2.85 per share for 2018. The mid-point of the range reflects a 6% year-over-year improvement with all regions projected to be more profitable and expand margins. This is projected to generate high-single digit growth in segment operating profit and contribute at least 40 basis points of margin expansion.

 

 

Owens-Illinois continues to mitigate the impact of the ongoing decline in mega beer in the United States by positioning itself to benefit from the rapidly growing market of U.S. beer imports.  It intends to achieve this through its joint venture (JV) with Constellation Brands, Inc. (STZ Quick QuoteSTZ - Free Report) and long-term sales contracts in Mexico.

 

The company’s extension of the 50-50 JV with Constellation Brands for an additional ten years (to 2034) and expansion to include an additional furnace will be earnings accretive in the future.

 

Owen-Illinois’ acquisition of Vitro's food and beverage business has provided the company a competitive edge in the attractive and growing glass segment of the packaging market in Mexico, further solidifying its position as the world's leading glass container producer.

 

 

Investors might want to hold on to the stock at present as it has ample positive prospects of outperforming peers in the near future.

 

 

Some better-ranked stocks in the sector include Komatsu Ltd. (KMTUY Quick QuoteKMTUY - Free Report) and H&E Equipment Services, Inc. (HEES Quick QuoteHEES - Free Report) . While Komatsu sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), H&E Equipment Services carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

 

Komatsu has a long-term earnings growth rate of 32%. The stock has gained 33% in a year’s time.

 

H&E Equipment Services has a long-term earnings growth rate of 14%. Its shares have soared 63%, over the past year.

 

 

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