We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Here's Why You Should Hold Onto Ingevity Stock for Now
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Ingevity shares benefitted as portfolio transformation and disciplined capital allocation paid off.
NGVT is focusing on high-return markets while targeting $300 million in share repurchases through 2027.
Ingevity faces APT weakness, macro uncertainty and risks from softer North American auto production.
Ingevity Corporation (NGVT - Free Report) shares have surged 33.9% in the past year on the back of disciplined capital allocation paired with the transformation of its business mix. Meanwhile, a weak demand scenario and changing customer preferences pose uncertainty, along with geopolitical uncertainties. The Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry declined 0.3% during the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why NGVT stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Portfolio Transformation and Capital Allocation Strengthen Growth
Ingevity’s ongoing portfolio transformation strategy is improving its business mix with the divestitures of Industrial Specialties and Road Markings and the advanced-stage sale process for APT, allowing the company to focus on higher-return opportunities. The company has also reduced approximately $10 million of stranded costs tied to the divestitures.
Strategic acquisitions, including Georgia-Pacific’s pine chemicals business, Capa and Ozark Materials, are supporting optimization of manufacturing processes and lowering logistics costs. The new technology platforms strengthen position in the end markets. Meanwhile, new growth opportunities in PFAS filtration, European biofuels and capacity expansions across fatty acids, caprolactone and polyols provide additional avenues for growth. Strong cash flow generation is further supporting shareholder returns, with leverage reducing to 2.5X and the company targeting a $300 million share repurchase through 2027.
APT Weakness and Macro Risks Weigh on Outlook
Ingevity continues to face significant challenges in its APT business, where weak customer demand, China-related sales pressure, unfavorable pricing and low plant utilization are weighing on profitability. The company also faced significant impairment charges last year, including goodwill impairment in APT, reinforcing the need for its planned divestiture.
Broader macroeconomic uncertainty, such as tariffs, higher raw material, logistics and energy costs and geopolitical volatility could pressure demand. In addition, weaker North American auto production, particularly in the second half of 2026, could pressure Performance Materials, while the segment remains exposed to uncertainty surrounding hybrid and ICE demand, EV adoption, government incentives and changing consumer preferences.
NGVT’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NGVT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Reliance, Inc. (RS - Free Report) , Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) .
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $23.23 per share, indicating a 62.9% year-over-year increase. RS’shares have gained 42.8% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APD’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.46 per share, indicating a rise of 11.9% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.9%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pinned at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.48% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.4%. AVNT’sshares have gained 29.2% over the past year.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Here's Why You Should Hold Onto Ingevity Stock for Now
Key Takeaways
Ingevity Corporation (NGVT - Free Report) shares have surged 33.9% in the past year on the back of disciplined capital allocation paired with the transformation of its business mix. Meanwhile, a weak demand scenario and changing customer preferences pose uncertainty, along with geopolitical uncertainties. The Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry declined 0.3% during the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Let’s find out why NGVT stock is worth retaining at the moment.
Portfolio Transformation and Capital Allocation Strengthen Growth
Ingevity’s ongoing portfolio transformation strategy is improving its business mix with the divestitures of Industrial Specialties and Road Markings and the advanced-stage sale process for APT, allowing the company to focus on higher-return opportunities. The company has also reduced approximately $10 million of stranded costs tied to the divestitures.
Strategic acquisitions, including Georgia-Pacific’s pine chemicals business, Capa and Ozark Materials, are supporting optimization of manufacturing processes and lowering logistics costs. The new technology platforms strengthen position in the end markets. Meanwhile, new growth opportunities in PFAS filtration, European biofuels and capacity expansions across fatty acids, caprolactone and polyols provide additional avenues for growth. Strong cash flow generation is further supporting shareholder returns, with leverage reducing to 2.5X and the company targeting a $300 million share repurchase through 2027.
APT Weakness and Macro Risks Weigh on Outlook
Ingevity continues to face significant challenges in its APT business, where weak customer demand, China-related sales pressure, unfavorable pricing and low plant utilization are weighing on profitability. The company also faced significant impairment charges last year, including goodwill impairment in APT, reinforcing the need for its planned divestiture.
Broader macroeconomic uncertainty, such as tariffs, higher raw material, logistics and energy costs and geopolitical volatility could pressure demand. In addition, weaker North American auto production, particularly in the second half of 2026, could pressure Performance Materials, while the segment remains exposed to uncertainty surrounding hybrid and ICE demand, EV adoption, government incentives and changing consumer preferences.
NGVT’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
NGVT currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Reliance, Inc. (RS - Free Report) , Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) .
RS, APD and AVNT each carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RS’ 2026 earnings is pegged at $23.23 per share, indicating a 62.9% year-over-year increase. RS’shares have gained 42.8% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for APD’s fiscal 2026 earnings is pegged at $13.46 per share, indicating a rise of 11.9% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 2.9%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pinned at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.48% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.4%. AVNT’sshares have gained 29.2% over the past year.