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Here's Why You Should Add FMC Corp (FMC) to Your Portfolio
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FMC Corporation (FMC - Free Report) has been performing well of late. The chemical company has seen its shares pop around 17% over the past three months, outperforming the industry’s 3.6% rise. The price performance has been backed by strong first-quarter results and the company’s upward guidance revision for the full year. With strong fundamentals and solid long-term growth prospects, this stock can be considered a solid bet now.
Let’s delve deeper into the factors that make this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock an intriguing choice for investors right now.
What’s Working in Favor of FMC?
Upbeat Outlook: FMC Corp, in May, raised its adjusted earnings expectations for 2018 to the range of $5.90-$6.20 per share from the previous view of $5.20-$5.60. Moreover, the company expects adjusted earnings in the range of $1.65-$1.75 per share for second-quarter 2018.
FMC Corp is witnessing strong momentum in its Lithium unit as demand for battery-grade lithium product remains strong. A significant long-term driver for the lithium business is the expected rapid adoption of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. The company’s expansion of lithium hydroxide in China and price increases of roughly 30% on hydroxide nearly doubled the Lithium segment’s profitability year over year in the first quarter.
The company raised revenue estimate for the Lithium segment for 2018 on the back of strong performance in the first quarter. FMC Corp now expects full-year revenues in the range of $430-$460 million (up from the previous range of $420-$460 million). The company also stated that the plan to separate listing of its Lithium unit in October this year also remains on track.
Acquisitions are also adding strength to the company’s agricultural business. The acquisition of a major portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business has provided a significant growth platform for FMC’s Agricultural Solutions unit. The buyout significantly increases the company’s presence in Asia and Europe.
Notably, the company’s revenues for the Agricultural Solutions segment jumped a whopping 109% year over year in the first quarter, mainly driven by the DuPont asset buyout. FMC Corp raised the revenue expectations for 2018 for the segment to the range of $4.05 billion to $4.25 billion from its prior view of $3.95 billion to $4.15 billion.
Positive Earnings Surprise History: FMC Corp has an impressive earnings surprise history. It has outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering a positive average earnings surprise of 8.2%.
Estimates Northbound: Annual estimates for FMC Corp have moved north over the past two months, reflecting analysts’ confidence on the stock. Over this period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 has increased by around 5.2% to $6.11 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 has also moved up 5.5% over the same timeframe to $6.70.
Superior Return on Equity (ROE): FMC Corp’s ROE of 22.7%, as compared with the industry average of 9.2%, manifests the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholder’s funds.
Strong Growth Prospects: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for 2018 for FMC Corp is currently pegged at $6.11, reflecting an expected year-over-year growth of 125.5%. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth of 14.3%, higher than the industry average of 10.1%.
Westlake Chemical has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 12.2%. Its shares have rallied roughly 61% over a year.
Chemours has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 15.5%. The company’s shares have gained around 17% in a year.
Versum has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 13%. Its shares have gained roughly 14% over a year.
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It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
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Here's Why You Should Add FMC Corp (FMC) to Your Portfolio
FMC Corporation (FMC - Free Report) has been performing well of late. The chemical company has seen its shares pop around 17% over the past three months, outperforming the industry’s 3.6% rise. The price performance has been backed by strong first-quarter results and the company’s upward guidance revision for the full year. With strong fundamentals and solid long-term growth prospects, this stock can be considered a solid bet now.
Let’s delve deeper into the factors that make this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock an intriguing choice for investors right now.
What’s Working in Favor of FMC?
Upbeat Outlook: FMC Corp, in May, raised its adjusted earnings expectations for 2018 to the range of $5.90-$6.20 per share from the previous view of $5.20-$5.60. Moreover, the company expects adjusted earnings in the range of $1.65-$1.75 per share for second-quarter 2018.
FMC Corp is witnessing strong momentum in its Lithium unit as demand for battery-grade lithium product remains strong. A significant long-term driver for the lithium business is the expected rapid adoption of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. The company’s expansion of lithium hydroxide in China and price increases of roughly 30% on hydroxide nearly doubled the Lithium segment’s profitability year over year in the first quarter.
The company raised revenue estimate for the Lithium segment for 2018 on the back of strong performance in the first quarter. FMC Corp now expects full-year revenues in the range of $430-$460 million (up from the previous range of $420-$460 million). The company also stated that the plan to separate listing of its Lithium unit in October this year also remains on track.
Acquisitions are also adding strength to the company’s agricultural business. The acquisition of a major portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business has provided a significant growth platform for FMC’s Agricultural Solutions unit. The buyout significantly increases the company’s presence in Asia and Europe.
Notably, the company’s revenues for the Agricultural Solutions segment jumped a whopping 109% year over year in the first quarter, mainly driven by the DuPont asset buyout. FMC Corp raised the revenue expectations for 2018 for the segment to the range of $4.05 billion to $4.25 billion from its prior view of $3.95 billion to $4.15 billion.
Positive Earnings Surprise History: FMC Corp has an impressive earnings surprise history. It has outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering a positive average earnings surprise of 8.2%.
Estimates Northbound: Annual estimates for FMC Corp have moved north over the past two months, reflecting analysts’ confidence on the stock. Over this period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 has increased by around 5.2% to $6.11 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 has also moved up 5.5% over the same timeframe to $6.70.
Superior Return on Equity (ROE): FMC Corp’s ROE of 22.7%, as compared with the industry average of 9.2%, manifests the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholder’s funds.
Strong Growth Prospects: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for 2018 for FMC Corp is currently pegged at $6.11, reflecting an expected year-over-year growth of 125.5%. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth of 14.3%, higher than the industry average of 10.1%.
FMC Corporation Price and Consensus
FMC Corporation Price and Consensus | FMC Corporation Quote
Other Stocks to Consider
Other top-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Westlake Chemical Corporation (WLK - Free Report) , The Chemours Company (CC - Free Report) and Versum Materials, Inc. , each carrying a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Westlake Chemical has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 12.2%. Its shares have rallied roughly 61% over a year.
Chemours has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 15.5%. The company’s shares have gained around 17% in a year.
Versum has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 13%. Its shares have gained roughly 14% over a year.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them Free>>