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Ingevity (NGVT) Soars to a 52-Week High, Time to Cash Out?

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Have you been paying attention to shares of Ingevity (NGVT - Free Report) ? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 3.1% over the past month. NGVT hit a new 52-week high of $84.69 in the previous session. Ingevity has gained 19.2% since the start of the year compared to the 1.2% move for the Basic Materials sector and the 1.4% year-to-date return for its peer group.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on February 20, 2018, Ingevity reported EPS of $0.45 versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.36 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 1.21%.

For the current fiscal year, Ingevity is expected to post earnings of $3.44 per share on $1.11 billion in revenues. This represents a 33.33% change in EPS on a 13.66% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $4.2 per share on $1.24 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 22.06% and 11.79%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

Ingevity may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for NGVT? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

Ingevity has a Value Score of C. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 24.5X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 23.5X versus its peer group's average of 11.8X. Additionally, the stock has a PEG ratio of 2.04. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, Ingevity currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Ingevity passes the test. Thus, it seems as though NGVT shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.

How Does Ingevity Stack Up to the Competition?

Shares of Ingevity have been rising, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? Some of its industry peers are also solid potential picks, including Versum Materials , DAQO New Energy (DQ - Free Report) , and W.R. Grace & Co. , all of which currently have a Zacks Rank of at least #2 and a VGM Score of at least B, making them well-rounded choices.

The Zacks Industry Rank is in the top 40% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for NGVT, even beyond its own solid fundamental situation.


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