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2 Glass Products Stocks to Watch in a Promising Industry

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The Zacks Glass Products industry is poised to benefit from the rising demand for glass, both as a packaging option and for use in construction. This is backed by its endless recyclability and sustainability benefits. Growing demand for energy-efficient, smart windows or smart glass panels will be another catalyst for the industry going forward.

Companies like O-I Glass, Inc. (OI - Free Report) and Apogee Enterprises (APOG - Free Report) are expected to gain from efforts to capitalize on this demand by boosting capacity and introducing innovative products to the market.

About the Industry

The Zacks Glass Products industry comprises companies that manufacture and sell glass products. O produces glass containers for packaging beverages, food and pharmaceuticals. Another player in the industry offers coated and high-performance glass used in customized window and wall systems. It caters to the construction industry, ranging from commercial and multi-family residential to institutional buildings. It also provides coated glass for picture framing, wall décor and display applications. Nowadays, companies that make glass for buildings offer smart glass windows using artificial intelligence to adjust and suitably increase access to natural light while minimizing heat and glare. Some have developed electrokinetic technology that can be retrofitted on any glass, enabling buildings to cut energy consumption and save on heating and cooling costs.

Major Trends Shaping the Future of the Glass Products Industry

Glass Packaging Gaining Popularity: Glass is increasingly becoming the packaging choice for customers, given its endless recyclability without a loss in quality. More than 80% of recycled bottles are used in making new bottles. This also helps negate the need for raw materials. Every ton of recycled glass saves 1,400 pounds of sand, 430 pounds of soda ash and 400 pounds of limestone/dolomite. As consumers are becoming more aware of their environmental footprint, a sharp spike in demand is noticed for refillable bottles, which offer the most sustainable and economical rigid packaging option. Manufacturers are focusing on improving their products by reducing the weight of the bottles for more convenient handling. Also, premium cosmetic and beverage brands are opting for glass to differentiate their products through packaging and ensure quality maintenance. 

Demand in the Construction Sector Holds Promise: In recent years, the use of glass gained popularity in construction as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials, including wood and bricks, owing to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight, immense strength and environmentally friendly factor. Glass increases the influx of natural light in the building, reduces energy consumption, minimizes carbon emissions and enhances the aesthetic appeal of structures. Rising construction activities across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors are likely to fuel the glass products industry’s growth. Increasing investments in the renovation or modernization of the existing infrastructure will also drive the industry’s growth. Various governments are introducing favorable policies and granting incentives to promote green construction to minimize greenhouse emissions and energy consumption, which bodes well for the industry.

Technological Innovation is the Key: Some players revolutionized the industry by bringing smart glass panels or smart windows to the market. These innovative products are designed to enable people to lead healthier and more productive lives by increasing access to daylight and views while minimizing glare and heat from the sun and keeping occupants comfortable. These products also help cut down on energy consumption from lighting and HVAC, thus reducing carbon emissions.

Pricing, Improving Efficiency to Offset Cost Inflation: The industry is witnessing rising costs for transportation, chemical and fuel, and supply-chain headwinds. Therefore, industry players are increasingly focusing on pricing actions and cost reduction and resorting to automation in manufacturing to boost productivity and efficiency.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects

The Zacks Glass Products industry is a two-stock group within the broader Industrial Products sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #7, which places it in the top 3% of the 247 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bullish prospects in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industry’s positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a solid earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually gaining confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential. The industry’s earnings estimate for the current year has gone up 4% over the past month.

Before we present two Glass Products stocks for investors’ consideration, it is worth looking at the industry’s stock-market performance and its valuation picture.

Industry Versus S&P 500 & Sector

The Glass Products industry has underperformed the S&P 500 and the sector in the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively declined 28.6% against the Industrial Products sector’s gain of 7.6%. The S&P 500 composite has risen 11% during the said time frame.

One-Year Price Performance


 

Industry's Current Valuation

Based on the trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio, a commonly used multiple for valuing Glass Products companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 2.72X compared with the S&P 500’s 17.65X and the Industrial Products sector’s 18.39X. This is shown in the charts below.

Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio (TTM)

Enterprise Value/EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio (TTM)

Over the last five years, the industry traded as high as 9.42X and as low as 2.60X, the median being 5.09X.

2 Glass Products Stocks to Watch

Apogee: All four segments reported higher sales in the recently reported second quarter of fiscal 2027. Apogee's portfolio spans healthcare, education, government and other non-residential construction markets, as well as framing, display and coated-material applications. Its differentiated products and commercial initiatives create opportunities to expand relationships with architects, contractors and other customers. Acquisitions also contributed to growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2027. The recent additions of Kalwall and Groglass broaden Apogee’s portfolio of differentiated products, extend its reach into attractive markets and create opportunities for higher-margin growth. 

Apogee provides architectural products and services for enclosing buildings, as well as glass and acrylic products used for preservation, protection and enhanced viewing in the United States, Canada and Brazil. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 for the Minneapolis, MN-based company has moved up 13.9% over the past 60 days. Apogee has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 33.3%, on average. The company has a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 12% and currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Price & Consensus: APOG


O-I Glass: Consumer preference for healthy, premium and sustainable food and beverage packaging continues to underpin O-I Glass’ long-term demand case. The company’s Fit to Win program remains the core mechanism for reducing its cost base and improving competitiveness after the earlier Portfolio Optimization program. Fit to Win generated $300 million of savings in 2025 and has delivered more than $400 million of net benefits since launch. In the first half of 2026, the program produced $85 million of net benefits despite $30 million of direct operating inefficiencies and approximately $45 million of total disruption when constrained sales opportunities and logistics costs are included. Management now expects about $200 million of benefits in 2026 and at least $650 million cumulatively through 2027. O-I Glass continues to combine portfolio investments with a more selective commercial growth strategy. The company has planned a $65 million electrification and decarbonization investment at its Veauche, France, plant, including hybrid-flex furnace technology, heat recovery and air preheating. 

Perrysburg, OH-based O-I Glass manufactures and sells glass containers to food and beverage manufacturers, primarily in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific. OI has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 7.3%. O-I Glass currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Price & Consensus: OI



 


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