So far the first-quarter earnings has portrayed an encouraging picture, with 95 S&P 500 members having already reported their numbers, which constitutes 24.9% of the index’s total market capitalization, earnings has gone up 14.3%. Considering all the companies that are yet to report, the S&P 500 is expected to register growth of 9.1% in the quarter, outperforming the 7.4% growth witnessed in the fourth quarter. It is worth mentioning that the earnings growth trajectory had entered the positive territory in third-quarter 2016, after five quarters of back-to-back declines. (Read more: Earnings Growth Accelerates in Q1)
Both the Containers-Paper and Packaging and Containers-Metal, Glass industries fall under the Basic Materials sector – one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors. The 15% of the companies in this sector that have reported so far have put up a 41.9% increase in earnings. Taking into account the companies that are yet to report, the sector’s earnings are expected to rise 11% in the quarter, a significant improvement from the 3.5% growth logged in the fourth quarter.
Last week packaging companies like Sonoco Products Co. (SON - Free Report) and Crown Holdings (CCK - Free Report) came out with their results. Sonoco’s top-line and bottom-line suffered declines in the first quarter. However, Crown Holdings fared better registering an improvement on both counts. Nevertheless, Sonoco’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues came in line. Crown Holdings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings and revenues.
Let's take a sneak peek at three major packaging container providers to see how things are shaping up prior to first-quarter 2017 results expected to be announced on Apr 27.
AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR - Free Report) , which sells packaging, dispensing, and sealing solutions to the beauty, food and beverage markets, is expected to report quarterly results, before the market opens. In the last reported quarter, the company reported a 6% rise in earnings despite a 1% dip in revenues.
In the last reported quarter, the company posted a positive earnings surprise of 4.55%. AptarGroup has beaten estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 0.77%.
AptarGroup, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
So far the first-quarter earnings has portrayed an encouraging picture, with 95 S&P 500 members having already reported their numbers, which constitutes 24.9% of the index’s total market capitalization, earnings has gone up 14.3%. Considering all the companies that are yet to report, the S&P 500 is expected to register growth of 9.1% in the quarter, outperforming the 7.4% growth witnessed in the fourth quarter. It is worth mentioning that the earnings growth trajectory had entered the positive territory in third-quarter 2016, after five quarters of back-to-back declines. (Read more: Earnings Growth Accelerates in Q1)
Both the Containers-Paper and Packaging and Containers-Metal, Glass industries fall under the Basic Materials sector – one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors. The 15% of the companies in this sector that have reported so far have put up a 41.9% increase in earnings. Taking into account the companies that are yet to report, the sector’s earnings are expected to rise 11% in the quarter, a significant improvement from the 3.5% growth logged in the fourth quarter.
Last week packaging companies like Sonoco Products Co. (SON - Free Report) and Crown Holdings (CCK - Free Report) came out with their results. Sonoco’s top-line and bottom-line suffered declines in the first quarter. However, Crown Holdings fared better registering an improvement on both counts. Nevertheless, Sonoco’s earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues came in line. Crown Holdings surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings and revenues.
Let's take a sneak peek at three major packaging container providers to see how things are shaping up prior to first-quarter 2017 results expected to be announced on Apr 27.
AptarGroup, Inc. (ATR - Free Report) , which sells packaging, dispensing, and sealing solutions to the beauty, food and beverage markets, is expected to report quarterly results, before the market opens. In the last reported quarter, the company reported a 6% rise in earnings despite a 1% dip in revenues.
In the last reported quarter, the company posted a positive earnings surprise of 4.55%. AptarGroup has beaten estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 0.77%.
AptarGroup, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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