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Here's Why Air Products is Worth Adding to Your Portfolio Now
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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) stock looks promising at the moment. The industrial gas giant is well-placed for growth on its project investments, productivity actions and new business deals.
We are positive on the company’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Let's see what makes this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock a compelling investment option at the moment.
Price Performance
Shares of Air Products have moved up 11.7% over a year against the 40.9% decline of its industry.
Upbeat Outlook
On its fiscal first-quarter earnings call, the company said that it expects adjusted earnings of $9.35-$9.60 per share for fiscal 2020. This suggests a 14-17% rise year over year. The company also sees adjusted earnings per share of $2.10-$2.20 for second-quarter fiscal 2020, which indicates a 9-15% rise year over year.
Healthy Growth Prospects
Growth prospects for Air Products look encouraging. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its earnings of $9.27 for fiscal 2020 suggests year-over-year growth of 12.9%. Moreover, earnings are expected to register 9.9% growth in the fiscal second quarter. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth rate of 10.3%.
Shareholder Returns
Air Products remains focused on maximizing returns to shareholders. Early this year, the company’s board increased its quarterly dividend by more than 15% to $1.34 per share from $1.16, marking the largest dividend hike in its history. This also marks the 38th straight year of a dividend increase.
Growth Drivers in Place
Air Products’ investments in high-return projects, productivity actions and new project wins are expected to drive its fiscal 2020 results. New projects are contributing to its volume growth as witnessed in the last reported quarter. The company is also boosting productivity to improve its cost structure. It is seeing positive impacts of its productivity actions, and is expected to benefit from additional productivity and cost-improvement programs in fiscal 2020.
The company is also poised for growth on its project investments. Notably, its latest project in the United States, which is worth $500 million, showcases its core strengths and capabilities for supplying nitrogen from an air separation unit and hydrogen from a steam methane reformer. This marks Air Products' largest investment so far in the United States. The project will likely boost the size and supply capacity of the company’s extensive hydrogen pipeline system in the Gulf Coast.
Air Products has a total available capacity to deploy (over fiscal 2018-2022) more than $18 billion in high-return investments aimed at creating significant shareholder value. It has already spent or committed more than half of the capacity.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
Some other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Novagold Resources Inc. (NG - Free Report) , Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV - Free Report) and Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD - Free Report) .
Novagold has a projected earnings growth rate of 11.1% for 2020. The company’s shares have surged 113% in a year. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Franco-Nevada has a projected earnings growth rate of 17.6% for 2020. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company’s shares have rallied 40.6% in a year.
Barrick Gold currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a projected earnings growth rate of 41.2% for 2020. The company’s shares have gained 50.2% in a year.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
Image: Bigstock
Here's Why Air Products is Worth Adding to Your Portfolio Now
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) stock looks promising at the moment. The industrial gas giant is well-placed for growth on its project investments, productivity actions and new business deals.
We are positive on the company’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to the portfolio as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Let's see what makes this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock a compelling investment option at the moment.
Price Performance
Shares of Air Products have moved up 11.7% over a year against the 40.9% decline of its industry.
Upbeat Outlook
On its fiscal first-quarter earnings call, the company said that it expects adjusted earnings of $9.35-$9.60 per share for fiscal 2020. This suggests a 14-17% rise year over year. The company also sees adjusted earnings per share of $2.10-$2.20 for second-quarter fiscal 2020, which indicates a 9-15% rise year over year.
Healthy Growth Prospects
Growth prospects for Air Products look encouraging. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its earnings of $9.27 for fiscal 2020 suggests year-over-year growth of 12.9%. Moreover, earnings are expected to register 9.9% growth in the fiscal second quarter. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth rate of 10.3%.
Shareholder Returns
Air Products remains focused on maximizing returns to shareholders. Early this year, the company’s board increased its quarterly dividend by more than 15% to $1.34 per share from $1.16, marking the largest dividend hike in its history. This also marks the 38th straight year of a dividend increase.
Growth Drivers in Place
Air Products’ investments in high-return projects, productivity actions and new project wins are expected to drive its fiscal 2020 results. New projects are contributing to its volume growth as witnessed in the last reported quarter. The company is also boosting productivity to improve its cost structure. It is seeing positive impacts of its productivity actions, and is expected to benefit from additional productivity and cost-improvement programs in fiscal 2020.
The company is also poised for growth on its project investments. Notably, its latest project in the United States, which is worth $500 million, showcases its core strengths and capabilities for supplying nitrogen from an air separation unit and hydrogen from a steam methane reformer. This marks Air Products' largest investment so far in the United States. The project will likely boost the size and supply capacity of the company’s extensive hydrogen pipeline system in the Gulf Coast.
Air Products has a total available capacity to deploy (over fiscal 2018-2022) more than $18 billion in high-return investments aimed at creating significant shareholder value. It has already spent or committed more than half of the capacity.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Quote
Other Stocks to Consider
Some other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Novagold Resources Inc. (NG - Free Report) , Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV - Free Report) and Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD - Free Report) .
Novagold has a projected earnings growth rate of 11.1% for 2020. The company’s shares have surged 113% in a year. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Franco-Nevada has a projected earnings growth rate of 17.6% for 2020. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The company’s shares have rallied 40.6% in a year.
Barrick Gold currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a projected earnings growth rate of 41.2% for 2020. The company’s shares have gained 50.2% in a year.
Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation
Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, it’s expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity.
A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks’ just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time.
See 8 breakthrough stocks now>>