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Cabot Corporation (CBT - Free Report) recorded net profit of $94 million or $1.51 per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (ended Sep 30, 2018), up from net profit of $72 million or $1.13 in the year-ago quarter.
Barring one-time items, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the reported quarter were $1.00 (up from 98 cents in the year-ago quarter), which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09.
Net sales increased around 17.6% year over year to $850 million in the quarter. The figure outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $846 million.
Adjusted earnings in fiscal 2018 rose 13.8% year over year to $4.03 per share, while net sales increased 19.3% year over year to $3,242 million.
According to Cabot, record financial performance in fiscal 2018 demonstrates its commitment and successful execution of corporate strategy across the globe.
Cabot Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Reinforcement Materials sales increased 27.2% year over year to $467 million in the fiscal fourth quarter. EBIT in the segment jumped 33%, driven by the impact of 2018 customer agreements as well as stronger spot pricing and higher volumes in Asia.
Sales in the Performance Chemicals rose almost 4.5% year over year to $257 million in the quarter. EBIT declined 27.3% due to higher costs associated with partner driven plant turnarounds in fumed silica network along with spending on advantaged growth investments.
Sales in the Purification Solutions edged down to $73 million from $74 million in the year-ago quarter, while the same for the Specialty Fluids segment rose 90.9% year over year to $21 million.
Financial Position
As of Sep 30, Cabot had cash and cash equivalents of $175 million, down from $280 million in the year-ago quarter. The company’s long-term debt contracted 8.8% year over year to $719 million.
Cash provided by operating activities was around $163 million in the reported quarter.
Outlook
Cabot expects adjusted EPS for fiscal 2019 in the range of $4.35 to $4.75.
Per the company, Reinforcement Materials division is expected to benefit from positive 2019 customer agreements and its strong market position in Asia. The Performance Chemicals unit is expected to return to a more normalized EBIT run-rate after the large turnarounds in the fiscal fourth quarter. It also expects the benefits from recent growth investments to materialize. The Purification Solutions segment is expected to gain from a targeted improvement plan that is currently under process. The Specialty Fluids unit is expected to continue its recent strong performance into fiscal 2019.
Price Performance
Shares of Cabot have lost 20.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 11.9% decline.///
Methanex has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. Its shares have rallied 31.8% in the past year.
CF Industries has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 6%. Its shares have gained 41.7% in a year.
Domtar has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 5%. Its shares have moved up 8.3% in the past year.
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Cabot (CBT) Misses Q4 Earnings, Tops Revenue Estimates
Cabot Corporation (CBT - Free Report) recorded net profit of $94 million or $1.51 per share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (ended Sep 30, 2018), up from net profit of $72 million or $1.13 in the year-ago quarter.
Barring one-time items, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the reported quarter were $1.00 (up from 98 cents in the year-ago quarter), which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09.
Net sales increased around 17.6% year over year to $850 million in the quarter. The figure outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $846 million.
Adjusted earnings in fiscal 2018 rose 13.8% year over year to $4.03 per share, while net sales increased 19.3% year over year to $3,242 million.
According to Cabot, record financial performance in fiscal 2018 demonstrates its commitment and successful execution of corporate strategy across the globe.
Cabot Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cabot Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Cabot Corporation Quote
Segment Highlights
Reinforcement Materials sales increased 27.2% year over year to $467 million in the fiscal fourth quarter. EBIT in the segment jumped 33%, driven by the impact of 2018 customer agreements as well as stronger spot pricing and higher volumes in Asia.
Sales in the Performance Chemicals rose almost 4.5% year over year to $257 million in the quarter. EBIT declined 27.3% due to higher costs associated with partner driven plant turnarounds in fumed silica network along with spending on advantaged growth investments.
Sales in the Purification Solutions edged down to $73 million from $74 million in the year-ago quarter, while the same for the Specialty Fluids segment rose 90.9% year over year to $21 million.
Financial Position
As of Sep 30, Cabot had cash and cash equivalents of $175 million, down from $280 million in the year-ago quarter. The company’s long-term debt contracted 8.8% year over year to $719 million.
Cash provided by operating activities was around $163 million in the reported quarter.
Outlook
Cabot expects adjusted EPS for fiscal 2019 in the range of $4.35 to $4.75.
Per the company, Reinforcement Materials division is expected to benefit from positive 2019 customer agreements and its strong market position in Asia. The Performance Chemicals unit is expected to return to a more normalized EBIT run-rate after the large turnarounds in the fiscal fourth quarter. It also expects the benefits from recent growth investments to materialize. The Purification Solutions segment is expected to gain from a targeted improvement plan that is currently under process. The Specialty Fluids unit is expected to continue its recent strong performance into fiscal 2019.
Price Performance
Shares of Cabot have lost 20.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 11.9% decline.///
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Cabot currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
A few better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Methanex Corporation (MEOH - Free Report) , CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF - Free Report) and Domtar Corporation , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Methanex has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 15%. Its shares have rallied 31.8% in the past year.
CF Industries has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 6%. Its shares have gained 41.7% in a year.
Domtar has expected long-term earnings growth rate of 5%. Its shares have moved up 8.3% in the past 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>>