Back to top

Image: Bigstock

Dull Outlook for Electronics Miscellaneous Components Stocks

Read MoreHide Full Article

The Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry primarily comprises companies that provide a wide range of electronic component products. Their offerings include power control and sensor technologies to mitigate equipment damage, testing products for safety, along with advanced medical solutions.

The industry participants cater to varied end markets such as telecommunications, automotive electronics, medical devices, industrial, transportation, energy harvesting, defense and aerospace electronic systems, as well as consumer electronics. Its customers mainly consist of original equipment manufacturers, independent electronic component distributors and electronic manufacturing service providers.

One of the prominent stocks in this industry is TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL - Free Report) .

Here are the industry’s three major themes:

  • As the majority of the industry participants have manufacturing operations in China and Southeast Asia, the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China — including restriction on sales to Huawei — is impacting the industry players, particularly in areas of robotics, industrial automation, as well as semiconductor applications. Also, the outbreak of coronavirus has impacted the industry participants as they have significant exposure in the country.
     
  • Rising demand for products like ceramic and tantalum capacitors, electromagnetic compatible devices, sensors and sensor-based measurement systems bodes well for the industry participants. However, trade war-driven increases in raw material costs, rising freight expenses and volatility in commodity prices pose significant challenges.
     
  • The demand for electronics continues to rise, driven by different factors including growing use of electronic devices in daily life, increasing complexity of electronic products, rising demand for AI in emerging markets and the ongoing development of new solutions for energy generation and conservation, thereby benefiting the industry participants.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bleak Prospects

The Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry is housed within the broader Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #202, which places it in the bottom 20% of more than 250 Zacks industries.

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

Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Lags Sector and S&P 500

The Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Components industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, and S&P 500 composite over the past year.

The industry has declined 5.5% over this period versus the S&P 500 and broader sector’s rally of 5.7% and 25.3%, respectively.

One-Year Price Performance

Industry’s Current Valuation

On the basis of forward 12-month price to earnings, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing electronics - miscellaneous components stocks, the industry is currently trading at 20.97X versus the S&P 500’s 22.38X and sector’s 25.78X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 20.97X, as low as 13.82X and recorded a median of 16.93X, which is depicted in the charts shown below.

Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio (F1)

Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio (F1)

Bottom Line

The development of new products and solutions in robotics, industrial automation, hybrid transportation systems, electronic controls for engines and industrial machinery, smart phones and portable devices, GPS navigation, as well as smart and connected (Internet of Things) devices should drive growth. However, trade tensions and volatility in prices of commodities like tantalum and ceramic powders are pressing concerns.

Here, we present two stocks that either have a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). These stocks are well positioned to outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (LPTH - Free Report) is a leading provider of optics and photonics solutions for industrial, defense, telecommunications, testing and measurement, as well as medical industries. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has gained 240.2% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for the current year has remained stable at 2 cents per share over the past 30 days.

Price and Consensus: LPTH

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT - Free Report) supplies precision manufactured components and services to the commercial nuclear power industry. The company offers technical, management and site services to governments in complex facilities and environmental remediation activities. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has gained 7.9% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for the current year has remained stable at $2.80 per share over the past 30 days.

Price and Consensus: BWXT

 

Zacks’ Single Best Pick to Double

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each picked their favorite to gain +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Zacks Director of Research, Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

This young company’s gigantic growth was hidden by low-volume trading, then cut short by the coronavirus. But its digital products stand out in a region where the internet economy has tripled since 2015 and looks to triple again by 2025.

Its stock price is already starting to resume its upward arc. The sky’s the limit! And the earlier you get in, the greater your potential gain.

Click Here, See It Free >>


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) - free report >>

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (LPTH) - free report >>

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) - free report >>

Published in