We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
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.
Why Should You Add Air Products (APD) to Your Portfolio?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.'s (APD - Free Report) stock looks promising at the moment. The industrial gases giant has seen its shares pop roughly 8% over the past three months. We are positive on the company’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to portfolio as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Let’s take a look into the factors that make this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock a compelling choice for investors right now.
What Makes APD an Attractive Pick?
An Outperformer: Air Products has outperformed the industry over a year. The company’s shares have gained around 13.4% over this period, compared with a paltry 0.2% growth recorded by the industry.
Estimates Moving Up: Annual estimates for Air Products have moved north over the past two months, reflecting analysts’ confidence on the stock. Over this period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 has increased by around 1.1% to $7.45 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 has also moved up 1.2% over the same timeframe to $8.16.
Positive Earnings Surprise History: Air Products 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 4.9%.
Healthy Growth Prospects: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2018 for Air Products reflects an expected year-over-year growth of 18.1%. Moreover, earnings are expected to register a 9.6% growth in fiscal 2019. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth of 16.2%, higher than the industry average of 11.7%.
Superior Return on Equity (ROE): Air Products’ ROE of 15.2%, as compared with the industry average of 9.8%, manifests the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholder’s funds.
Upbeat Outlook: Air Products, in July, raised its adjusted earnings guidance for fiscal 2018. It now anticipates adjusted earnings to be in the range of $7.40 to $7.45 per share (a 17-18% increase from the prior year), up from its earlier view of $7.25 to $7.40 per share. The company also expects adjusted earnings to be in the band of $1.95 to $2.00 per share for the fiscal fourth quarter, up 11-14% year over year.
Air Products has built a strong project backlog. These projects are anticipated to be accretive to earnings and cash flow over the next few years. It will also benefit from its actions to cut operational costs.
Moreover, strategic investments in high-return projects, new business deals and acquisitions are likely to drive fiscal 2018 results. The company has a capacity to deploy at least $15 billion in high-return investments over the next five years, which will boost shareholders’ value.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
Ingevity has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. The company’s shares have rallied around 69% in a year.
Celanese has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 10%. The company’s shares have gained around 12% in a year.
Huntsman has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 8.5%. The company’s shares have gained around 7% in a year.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
Image: Bigstock
Why Should You Add Air Products (APD) to Your Portfolio?
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.'s (APD - Free Report) stock looks promising at the moment. The industrial gases giant has seen its shares pop roughly 8% over the past three months. We are positive on the company’s prospects and believe that the time is right for you to add the stock to portfolio as it looks promising and is poised to carry the momentum ahead.
Let’s take a look into the factors that make this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock a compelling choice for investors right now.
What Makes APD an Attractive Pick?
An Outperformer: Air Products has outperformed the industry over a year. The company’s shares have gained around 13.4% over this period, compared with a paltry 0.2% growth recorded by the industry.
Estimates Moving Up: Annual estimates for Air Products have moved north over the past two months, reflecting analysts’ confidence on the stock. Over this period, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2018 has increased by around 1.1% to $7.45 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2019 has also moved up 1.2% over the same timeframe to $8.16.
Positive Earnings Surprise History: Air Products 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 4.9%.
Healthy Growth Prospects: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2018 for Air Products reflects an expected year-over-year growth of 18.1%. Moreover, earnings are expected to register a 9.6% growth in fiscal 2019. The company also has an expected long-term earnings per share growth of 16.2%, higher than the industry average of 11.7%.
Superior Return on Equity (ROE): Air Products’ ROE of 15.2%, as compared with the industry average of 9.8%, manifests the company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholder’s funds.
Upbeat Outlook: Air Products, in July, raised its adjusted earnings guidance for fiscal 2018. It now anticipates adjusted earnings to be in the range of $7.40 to $7.45 per share (a 17-18% increase from the prior year), up from its earlier view of $7.25 to $7.40 per share. The company also expects adjusted earnings to be in the band of $1.95 to $2.00 per share for the fiscal fourth quarter, up 11-14% year over year.
Air Products has built a strong project backlog. These projects are anticipated to be accretive to earnings and cash flow over the next few years. It will also benefit from its actions to cut operational costs.
Moreover, strategic investments in high-return projects, new business deals and acquisitions are likely to drive fiscal 2018 results. The company has a capacity to deploy at least $15 billion in high-return investments over the next five years, which will boost shareholders’ value.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Quote
Other Stocks to Consider
Other top-ranked stocks worth considering in the basic materials space include Ingevity Corporation (NGVT - Free Report) , Celanese Corporation (CE - Free Report) and Huntsman Corporation (HUN - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ingevity has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 12%. The company’s shares have rallied around 69% in a year.
Celanese has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 10%. The company’s shares have gained around 12% in a year.
Huntsman has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 8.5%. The company’s shares have gained around 7% in a year.
Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?
Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.
Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.
See the pot trades we're targeting>>