Here's Why You Should Hold Onto Air Products Stock for Now

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD is expected to gain from its project investments, productivity actions and new business deals amid the softness in China and Europe.The company’s shares have gained 26% over a year compared with the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry’s 7.1% rise. Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchLet’s find out why APD stock is worth retaining at the moment.High-return Projects and Productivity Actions Aid APD StockAir Products is well-placed to benefit from its investments in high-return industrial gas projects and productivity measures. It remains focused on its gasification strategy and is executing its growth projects. These projects are expected to be accretive to earnings and cash flows.APD is realizing the benefits of the completion of the second phase of the Jazan project in Saudi Arabia. Air Products’ carbon-free green hydrogen joint venture (JV) project in Saudi Arabia with NEOM and ACWA Power is also on track. The JV is building the world’s largest green hydrogen facility to produce green ammonia at scale. Roughly 60% of construction work is complete and the project is expected to come on stream in end-2026.  Air Products is also driving productivity to improve its cost structure. It is seeing the positive impacts of its productivity actions. Benefits from additional productivity and cost improvement programs are likely to support its margins moving ahead. The company also remains focused on improving pricing amid an inflationary environment.The company also remains committed to maximizing returns to shareholders leveraging strong balance sheet and cash flows. Air Products’ board, earlier this year, increased its quarterly dividend to $1.77 per share. This marked the 42nd straight year of dividend increase. APD expects to return roughly $1.6 billion to shareholders through dividends in 2024.Softness in China & Europe a Worry for Air ProductsThe slowdown in China and Europe may affect APD’s business in these regions. The sluggish China economy remains a headwind over the near term. A slower economic recovery in China and the softness in electronics may affect volumes. APD has provided a conservative forecast for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 factoring in the concerns about economic activities in China.Air Products is also seeing weak demand for merchant products in Europe. Its volumes in Europe were flat in the fiscal fourth quarter as the contribution of the new assets in Uzbekistan offset weaker merchant volumes. The lack of growth in industrial output in Europe is a concern for the near term.Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Price and Consensus Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. QuoteAPD’s Zacks Rank & Other Key PicksAPD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).Better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Methanex Corporation MEOH, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. AXTA and Ingevity Corporation NGVT, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Methanex’s current-year earnings has increased by 20.7% in the past 60 days. MEOH beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters with the average surprise being 101%. Its shares have gained roughly 12% in the past year.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Axalta Coating’s current year earnings is pegged at $2.15, indicating a rise of 36.9% from year-ago levels. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXTA’s current year earnings has increased 3.9% in the past 60 days. The stock has rallied around 26% in the past year. Ingevity beat the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while missed once. In this timeframe, it delivered an earnings surprise of 95.4%, on average. NGVT’s shares have gained roughly 26% in the past year.Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.This top pick is among the most innovative financial firms. With a fast-growing customer base (already 50+ million) and a diverse set of cutting edge solutions, this stock is poised for big gains. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant 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 Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD): Free Stock Analysis Report Methanex Corporation (MEOH): Free Stock Analysis Report Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA): Free Stock Analysis Report Ingevity Corporation (NGVT): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks