On Nov 15, we issued an updated research report on Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN Quick QuoteSLGN - Free Report) . The company is poised to gain from the Dispensing Systems acquisition, rise in capital expenditures and lower tax rates. However, volume declines in its largest business, food cans, inflated freight costs and material costs might restrain margins in the near term.

 

Let’s illustrate the factors in detail.

 

 

In April 2017, Silgan Holdings acquired the specialty closures and dispensing systems operations of WestRock Company (WRK Quick QuoteWRK - Free Report) , now operating under the name Silgan Dispensing Systems (“SDS”). Silgan Holdings’ Closures segment (which contributed 28% of the company’s revenues in the third-quarter 2018) will continue to benefit from the Dispensing Systems acquisition, including synergies, and continued benefits from manufacturing efficiencies and higher unit volumes.

 

 

For 2018, Silgan Holdings expects capital expenditures of $200 million, up from $175 million reported in the previous year. Year to date, Silgan Holdings reported capital expenditures of around $135 million, compared with $124 million in 2017. Notably, capital expenditures in 2018 will be utilized for new facilities in Fort Smith, AR and Allentown, PA. Further, the company’s strong cash-flow position, based on higher operating income in each business, net improvement in working capital and lower cash taxes will drive growth.

 

 

Silgan Holdings anticipates the effective tax rate for 2018 to be 24%, reflecting a substantial improvement from 33.8% in 2017, excluding certain effective tax-rate adjustments. The lower effective tax rate for 2018 reflects the impact of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Silgan Holdings, which had been operating with comparative tax rate disadvantages compared with many of its peers, will benefit substantially. This recent tax reform is expected to reduce cash obligations for existing net deferred tax liabilities and enable greater flexibility to utilize global cash to invest in optimal locations.

 

 

Silgan Holdings is witnessing continued significant volume declines in its largest business, food cans. Industry overcapacity, weakness in soup category is affecting volumes. Further, a significant part of the volume decline can be attributed to one customer undergoing portfolio management efforts and the associated food can inventory reductions. In fact, the customer has signaled its intentions to reduce inventories further next year. Moreover, closure of a fruit processing plant on the West Coast and the competitive loss of another customer led to lower volumes. 

 

 

The company expects inflated freight costs to impact the current-year results. Silgan Holdings’ margin performance will be also impacted in 2018 by material cost inflation mainly due to tariffs on steel and aluminum prices imposed by the U.S. government.

 

 

 

Over the past year, shares of Silgan Holdings have dropped 12.7%, against the industry’s growth of 7.3%.

 

 

Silgan Holdings currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

 

Better-ranked stocks in the same sector include Enersys (ENS Quick QuoteENS - Free Report) and Flowserve Corporation (FLS Quick QuoteFLS - Free Report) . While Enersys sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Flowserve carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

 

Enersys has a long-term earnings growth rate of 10%. Shares of the company have appreciated 28% over the past year.

 

Flowserve has a long-term earnings growth rate of 17%. Its shares have rallied around 22% in the past year.

 

 

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