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Here's Why You Should Consider Buying Crane (CR) Stock Now
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We issued an updated research report on Crane Co. (CR - Free Report) on Nov 26.
This conglomerate currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Its market capitalization is approximately $5.1 billion.
Let’s delve deeper and discuss why investors should consider adding Crane’s stock to their portfolio.
Financial Performance & Outlook: Over time, Crane has been delivering better-than-expected results. The company surpassed estimates in the past four quarters, the average positive earnings surprise being 11.72%. In the last reported quarter (ended September 2018), its bottom line increased 11.72% on the back of improvement in core sales and margins.
Crane believes solid demand for products in end-markets served, as well as repositioning initiatives and efforts to reduce debts, to be advantageous in the quarters ahead. For 2018, the company increased its adjusted earnings per share projection from $5.60-$5.80 to $5.80-$5.90. Further, free cash flow is now anticipated to be $260-$290 million versus $250-$280 million mentioned earlier.
Growth Opportunities in Segments: Crane operates through four segments — Fluid Handling, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, Aerospace & Electronics, and Engineered Materials. Strengthening business in three of the four segments is a boon for the company.
The company believes that improving end-market businesses for the Fluid Handling segment are likely to be a boon. Core sales are likely to slightly surpass 3% growth target for 2018. Payment & Merchandising Technologies gains from healthy Merchandising Systems and Crane Payment Innovations businesses. Also, Crane Currency buyout is an added advantage, with integration activities progressing well. In addition, Aerospace & Electronics is gaining from new programs and ramp-up deliveries of narrow-body platforms.
For 2018, Crane anticipates core sales growth to be approximately at the mid-point of 2-4% projection.
Inorganic Initiatives: One of the attractive features of Crane is its acquisitive nature. In the first nine months of 2018, payments for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) amounted to approximately $648 million. Further, buyouts added roughly 18.9% to sales growth in the third quarter of 2018.
In January 2018, the company acquired Crane & Co., Inc. (Crane Currency), banknotes and related security features supplier. Earnings per share accretion from the Crane Currency buyout are expected to be roughly $1 by 2021.
Share Price Performance & Earnings Estimates: Impressive financial performance and solid outlook for 2018 supported positive sentiments on the stock. It’s worth noting here that the company’s share price has yielded 1.3% return in the past month. This share price gain is better than the industry’s 2.4% decline during the same period.
Moreover, earnings estimates on Crane for 2018 have improved in the past 30 days. Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $5.89 for 2018, reflecting growth 0.3% from the 30-day-ago tally. Moreover, estimates reflect year-over-year growth of 30%.
In addition, the company’s earnings are anticipated to grow 9.6% in three to five years versus the industry’s 9.5%.
Others Stocks to Consider
As discussed above, Crane seems to be a suitable investment choice for investors seeking exposure in the conglomerate space. Some other top-ranked stocks in the industry in which Crane belongs include HC2 Holdings, Inc. , Federal Signal Corporation (FSS - Free Report) and ITT Inc. (ITT - Free Report) . While HC2 Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Federal Signal and ITT carry a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
In the past 60 days, bottom-line estimates on the stocks improved for the current year. Further, earnings surprise for the last reported quarter was a positive 111.90% for HC2 Holdings, 9.09% for Federal Signal and 3.80% for ITT.
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.
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Here's Why You Should Consider Buying Crane (CR) Stock Now
We issued an updated research report on Crane Co. (CR - Free Report) on Nov 26.
This conglomerate currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Its market capitalization is approximately $5.1 billion.
Let’s delve deeper and discuss why investors should consider adding Crane’s stock to their portfolio.
Financial Performance & Outlook: Over time, Crane has been delivering better-than-expected results. The company surpassed estimates in the past four quarters, the average positive earnings surprise being 11.72%. In the last reported quarter (ended September 2018), its bottom line increased 11.72% on the back of improvement in core sales and margins.
Crane believes solid demand for products in end-markets served, as well as repositioning initiatives and efforts to reduce debts, to be advantageous in the quarters ahead. For 2018, the company increased its adjusted earnings per share projection from $5.60-$5.80 to $5.80-$5.90. Further, free cash flow is now anticipated to be $260-$290 million versus $250-$280 million mentioned earlier.
Growth Opportunities in Segments: Crane operates through four segments — Fluid Handling, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, Aerospace & Electronics, and Engineered Materials. Strengthening business in three of the four segments is a boon for the company.
The company believes that improving end-market businesses for the Fluid Handling segment are likely to be a boon. Core sales are likely to slightly surpass 3% growth target for 2018. Payment & Merchandising Technologies gains from healthy Merchandising Systems and Crane Payment Innovations businesses. Also, Crane Currency buyout is an added advantage, with integration activities progressing well. In addition, Aerospace & Electronics is gaining from new programs and ramp-up deliveries of narrow-body platforms.
For 2018, Crane anticipates core sales growth to be approximately at the mid-point of 2-4% projection.
Inorganic Initiatives: One of the attractive features of Crane is its acquisitive nature. In the first nine months of 2018, payments for acquisitions (net of cash acquired) amounted to approximately $648 million. Further, buyouts added roughly 18.9% to sales growth in the third quarter of 2018.
In January 2018, the company acquired Crane & Co., Inc. (Crane Currency), banknotes and related security features supplier. Earnings per share accretion from the Crane Currency buyout are expected to be roughly $1 by 2021.
Share Price Performance & Earnings Estimates: Impressive financial performance and solid outlook for 2018 supported positive sentiments on the stock. It’s worth noting here that the company’s share price has yielded 1.3% return in the past month. This share price gain is better than the industry’s 2.4% decline during the same period.
Moreover, earnings estimates on Crane for 2018 have improved in the past 30 days. Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $5.89 for 2018, reflecting growth 0.3% from the 30-day-ago tally. Moreover, estimates reflect year-over-year growth of 30%.
Crane Company Price and Consensus
Crane Company Price and Consensus | Crane Company Quote
In addition, the company’s earnings are anticipated to grow 9.6% in three to five years versus the industry’s 9.5%.
Others Stocks to Consider
As discussed above, Crane seems to be a suitable investment choice for investors seeking exposure in the conglomerate space. Some other top-ranked stocks in the industry in which Crane belongs include HC2 Holdings, Inc. , Federal Signal Corporation (FSS - Free Report) and ITT Inc. (ITT - Free Report) . While HC2 Holdings currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Federal Signal and ITT carry a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
In the past 60 days, bottom-line estimates on the stocks improved for the current year. Further, earnings surprise for the last reported quarter was a positive 111.90% for HC2 Holdings, 9.09% for Federal Signal and 3.80% for ITT.
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>>