Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights O-I Glass, Apogee Enterprises and View
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – October 30, 2023 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses O-I Glass OI, Apogee Enterprises APOG and View, Inc. VIEW.
Industry: Glass Products
Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2173837/3-stocks-to-watch-in-the-promising-glass-products-industry
The Zacks Glass Products industry is poised to benefit from the rising demand for glass, both as a packaging option and for use in construction. This is backed by its endless recyclability and sustainability benefits. Growing demand for energy-efficient, smart windows or smart glass panels will be another catalyst for the industry, going forward.
Companies like O-I Glass, Apogee Enterprises and View, Inc. are posed to gain from their efforts to capitalize on this demand by boosting capacity and introducing innovative products to the market.
About the Industry
The Zacks Glass Products industry comprises companies that manufacture and sell glass products. One company produces glass containers for packaging beverages, food and pharmaceuticals. Another player in the industry offers coated and high-performance glass used in customized window and wall systems. The same company caters to the construction industry, ranging from commercial and multi-family residential to institutional buildings. It also provides coated glass for picture framing, wall décor and display applications.
One company offers smart glass windows using artificial intelligence to adjust and suitably increase access to natural light, while minimizing heat and glare. Another company developed an electrokinetic technology that can be retrofitted on any glass, enabling buildings to cut energy consumption and save on heating and cooling costs, the need of the hour.
Major Trends Shaping the Future of the Glass Products Industry
Glass Packaging Gaining Popularity: Glass is increasingly becoming the packaging choice for customers, given its endless recyclability without a loss in quality. More than 80% of recycled bottles are used in making new bottles. This also helps negate the need for raw materials. Every ton of recycled glass saves 1,400 pounds of sand, 430 pounds of soda ash and 400 pounds of limestone/dolomite.
As consumers are becoming more aware of their environmental footprint, a sharp spike in demand is noticed for refillable bottles, which offer the most sustainable and economical rigid packaging option. Manufacturers are focusing on improving their products by reducing the weight of the bottles for more convenient handling.
Also, premium cosmetic and beverage brands are opting for glass to differentiate their products through packaging and ensure quality maintenance. Per Statista, the global market value of glass containers and bottles is expected to surge to $96 billion in 2029 from $60.9 billion in 2022.
Demand in the Construction Sector Holds Promise: In recent years, the use of glass gained popularity in construction as a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials, including wood and bricks, owing to its cost-effectiveness, lightweight, immense strength and environmentally friendly factor. Glass increases the influx of natural light in the building, reduces energy consumption, minimizes carbon emissions and enhances the aesthetic appeal of structures.
Rising construction activities across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors are likely to fuel the glass products industry's growth. Increasing investments in the renovation or modernization of the existing infrastructure will also drive the industry's growth. Various governments are introducing favorable policies and granting incentives to promote green construction to minimize greenhouse emissions and energy consumption, which bode well for the industry. The global construction glass market is expected to be $52.7 billion in 2023 and grow thereafter, seeing a CAGR of 7%, to reach $190.3 billion by 2027.
Technological Innovation is the Key: Some players revolutionized the industry by bringing smart glass panels or smart windows to the market. These innovative products are designed to enable people to lead healthier and more productive lives by increasing access to daylight and views, while minimizing glare and heat from the sun, and keeping occupants comfortable. These products also help cut down on energy consumption from lighting and HVAC, thus reducing carbon emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, already signed into law, will be a game changer for the industry as it includes a 30-50% Investment Tax Credit for smart windows.
Pricing, Improving Efficiency to Offset Cost Inflation: The industry is witnessing rising costs for transportation, chemical and fuel, and supply-chain headwinds. Therefore, industry players are increasingly focusing on pricing actions and cost reduction, and resorting to automation in manufacturing to boost productivity and efficiency.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects
The Zacks Glass Products industry is a 5-stock group within the broader Industrial Products sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #92, which places it in the top 37% of the 251 Zacks industries.
The group's Zacks Industry Rank, basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bullish prospects in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry's positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a solid earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate.
Before we present a few Glass Products stocks for investors' consideration, it is worth looking at the industry's stock-market performance and its valuation picture.
Industry Versus S&P 500 & Sector
The Glass Products industry has underperformed the S&P 500 and the sector over the past year. The stocks in this industry have collectively declined 26.9% against the Industrial Products sector's dip of 0.8%. Further, the S&P 500 composite has risen 1.4% during the said time frame.
Industry's Current Valuation
Based on the forward 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio, a commonly-used multiple for valuing Glass Products companies, we see that the industry is currently trading at 3.67X compared with the S&P 500's 10.70X and the Industrial Products sector's 13.87X.
Over the last five years, the industry traded as high as 7.68X and as low as 4.27X, the median being 5.88X.
3 Glass Products Stocks to Keep an Eye on
Apogee: The company's Architectural Glass segment is gaining on an improved pricing and product mix, which reflects its strategic shift toward more premium products. Efforts to improve productivity gains have also benefited the segment. The segment has been winning several project awards and building a project pipeline for the coming years. The company's solid liquidity position, coupled with a strong free cash flow, places it well to drive growth.
Following a detailed review of its business, the company has embarked on a strategy to deliver profitable growth and improved returns. It has set three-year financial goals, which include a ROIC greater than 12%, an operating margin of more than 10% and revenue growth above 1.2 times growth of the non-residential construction market.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Apogee's ongoing year's earnings has moved 6% north over the past 90 days. The consensus mark indicates year-over-year growth of 13%. This Minneapolis, MN-based entity has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 14%, on average. Apogee currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
O-I Glass: The company has been delivering robust results, aided by strong net price realization, solid operating performance and benefits from its ongoing margin expansion initiatives. Its consistent investments in boosting production capacity to meet the growing demand for glass packaging bode well. OI's cost-control measures have helped it negate the impacts of higher costs and supply-chain issues on margins.
Also, its margin expansion initiative is expected to reap more than $100 million in benefits in 2023. Focus on acquisitions and innovations is also likely to fuel growth. The company's glass melting technology, known as the MAGMA program, intends to reduce the amount of capital required to install, rebuild and operate its furnaces.
Perrysburg, OH-based O-I Glass manufactures and sells glass containers to food and beverage manufacturers, primarily in the Americas, Europe and the Asia Pacific. OI's earnings estimates for fiscal 2023 have been unchanged over the past 60 days. The consensus estimate indicates 38% year-over-year growth. OI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 20.5%, on average, and a long-term estimated earnings growth rate of 12%. The company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
View: The company is seeing top-line improvement, aided by growth across all product lines, including Smart Glass, Smart Building Platform and Smart Building Technologies. The company has completed the pivot to multi-family residential. The multi-family vertical now represents the majority of the company's project pipeline. View has been significantly expanding its product portfolio, bringing several smart building products to the market.
With a solid customer base and investment to boost its manufacturing capacity, VIEW is poised for growth. Increasing customer interest in smart windows, following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that includes a 30-50% ITC, bodes well. VIEW is also working on forging business relationships with real estate brokers to spread awareness of its products and their benefits. The company has been focusing on lowering its structural costs and improving efficiency, which have been aiding margin expansion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for this Milpitas, CA-based player's current-year bottom line is pegged at a loss of $36.03. The loss has narrowed from the previous consensus estimate of a loss of $46.71 per share expected 90 days ago. VIEW has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.7%, on average. The company currently has a Zacks Rank of 3.
Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?
Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +6.2 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +46.4%, +49.5% and +55.2% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.
See Stocks Free >>
Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZacksInvestmentResearch/
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Media Contact
Zacks Investment Research
800-767-3771 ext. 9339
support@zacks.com
https://www.zacks.com
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
O-I Glass, Inc. (OI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (APOG) : Free Stock Analysis Report
View, Inc. (VIEW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
