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Air Products (APD) Hits 52-Week High: What's Driving it?
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Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) scaled a fresh 52-week high of $210.15 on May 17, before closing the session at $209.92.
The company has a market cap of roughly $46.2 billion. Average volume of shares traded in the past three months was around 1,193.2K. The company has expected long-term earnings per share (EPS) growth rate of 11.8%.
The stock has gained 23.9% in the past year, against the industry’s 33.1% decline.
What’s Driving the Rally?
Better-than-expected earnings, upbeat fiscal 2019 view and bright business prospects are contributing to the rally in Air Products’ shares.
Air Products generated profit of $421.3 million or $1.90 per share in second-quarter fiscal 2019, up from $416.4 million or $1.89 in the year-ago quarter. Barring one-time items, adjusted EPS came in at $1.92, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.88.
The company raised its adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2019 to the range of $8.15-$8.30 from previous expectation of $8.05-$8.30. The projected figure suggests a 10% rise year over year at the midpoint.
Moreover, adjusted EPS for third-quarter fiscal 2019 is expected in the band of $2.10-$2.15, indicating 8-10% rise year over year.
Air Products has a strong project backlog, which is expected to be accretive to earnings and cash flow as they come on stream over the next few years. The company’s investments in high-return projects, business deals and acquisitions are expected to drive results in fiscal 2019. Its productivity and pricing actions are also expected to support margins.
Air Products has a total available capacity to deploy around $16 billion in high-return investments over fiscal 2018-2022, which is expected to boost shareholders’ value. Moreover, the Lu'An project, which is now fully onstream, is expected to contribute more than 25 cents per share to earnings in fiscal 2019.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
Materion has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.1% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 16% in the past year.
Fortescue Metals has an expected earnings growth rate of 101.5% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged 70.5% in a year’s time.
AngloGold has an expected earnings growth rate of 86.8% for 2019. Its shares have rallied 39.4% in a year’s time.
This Could Be the Fastest Way to Grow Wealth in 2019
Research indicates one sector is poised to deliver a crop of the best-performing stocks you'll find anywhere in the market. Breaking news in this space frequently creates quick double- and triple-digit profit opportunities.
These companies are changing the world – and owning their stocks could transform your portfolio in 2019 and beyond. Recent trades from this sector have generated +98%, +119% and +164% gains in as little as 1 month.
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Air Products (APD) Hits 52-Week High: What's Driving it?
Shares of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD - Free Report) scaled a fresh 52-week high of $210.15 on May 17, before closing the session at $209.92.
The company has a market cap of roughly $46.2 billion. Average volume of shares traded in the past three months was around 1,193.2K. The company has expected long-term earnings per share (EPS) growth rate of 11.8%.
The stock has gained 23.9% in the past year, against the industry’s 33.1% decline.
What’s Driving the Rally?
Better-than-expected earnings, upbeat fiscal 2019 view and bright business prospects are contributing to the rally in Air Products’ shares.
Air Products generated profit of $421.3 million or $1.90 per share in second-quarter fiscal 2019, up from $416.4 million or $1.89 in the year-ago quarter. Barring one-time items, adjusted EPS came in at $1.92, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.88.
The company raised its adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2019 to the range of $8.15-$8.30 from previous expectation of $8.05-$8.30. The projected figure suggests a 10% rise year over year at the midpoint.
Moreover, adjusted EPS for third-quarter fiscal 2019 is expected in the band of $2.10-$2.15, indicating 8-10% rise year over year.
Air Products has a strong project backlog, which is expected to be accretive to earnings and cash flow as they come on stream over the next few years. The company’s investments in high-return projects, business deals and acquisitions are expected to drive results in fiscal 2019. Its productivity and pricing actions are also expected to support margins.
Air Products has a total available capacity to deploy around $16 billion in high-return investments over fiscal 2018-2022, which is expected to boost shareholders’ value. Moreover, the Lu'An project, which is now fully onstream, is expected to contribute more than 25 cents per share to earnings in fiscal 2019.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Quote
Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks
Air Products currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Materion Corporation (MTRN - Free Report) , Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY - Free Report) and AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AU - Free Report) , all currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Materion has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.1% for 2019. The company’s shares have gained 16% in the past year.
Fortescue Metals has an expected earnings growth rate of 101.5% for the current year. The company’s shares have surged 70.5% in a year’s time.
AngloGold has an expected earnings growth rate of 86.8% for 2019. Its shares have rallied 39.4% in a year’s time.
This Could Be the Fastest Way to Grow Wealth in 2019
Research indicates one sector is poised to deliver a crop of the best-performing stocks you'll find anywhere in the market. Breaking news in this space frequently creates quick double- and triple-digit profit opportunities.
These companies are changing the world – and owning their stocks could transform your portfolio in 2019 and beyond. Recent trades from this sector have generated +98%, +119% and +164% gains in as little as 1 month.
Click here to see these breakthrough stocks now >>