Air Products and Chemicals Inc.’s (APD Quick QuoteAPD - Free Report) Mont Belvieu, TX hydrogen production facility, which is now onstream, has enabled it to increase the supply capacity of its Gulf Coast hydrogen pipeline supply network by roughly 40 million standard cubic feet per day. 

 

The company’s Texas facility processes an additional supply of hydrogen-rich off-gas from a propane dehydrogenation plant operated by Enterprise Products Operating LLC, a fully-owned subsidiary of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. The production facility uses the company's proven pressure swing adsorption technology.

 

The increased off-gas processing and hydrogen production capability, under a new long-term agreement, builds on the company’s successful off-gas processing from Enterprise at the same complex since 1994.

 

Being the world's largest plant and pipeline network, Air Products' Gulf Coast hydrogen system provides more than 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of hydrogen per day to refinery and petrochemicals customers. 

 

Air Products’ shares have moved up 15.7% over a year, outperforming the industry’s 8.4% gain.

 

 

 

For fiscal 2018, Air Products anticipates adjusted earnings in the range of $7.15-$7.35 per share, up 13-16% from the prior year. The guidance includes an expected benefit of 20-25 cents per share from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For the fiscal second quarter, Air Products expects the same in the band of $1.65 to $1.70 per share. Also, it projects capital expenditure of $1.2-$1.4 billion for the current year.

 

 

 

Air Products currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

 

Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB Quick QuoteLYB - Free Report) , Kronos Worldwide Inc. (KRO Quick QuoteKRO - Free Report) and Methanex Corporation (MEOH Quick QuoteMEOH - Free Report) . All three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

 

LyondellBasell has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 9%. The company’s shares have moved up 14.4% in a year. 

 

Kronos has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 5%. Its shares have gained 34% over a year.

 

Methanex has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. Its shares have moved up 26.8% in a year.

 

 

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