On Friday, Mizuho Securities upheld its positive stance on Crown Holdings (NYSE: NYSE:CCK) shares, raising its price target to $110 from the previous $106, while maintaining an Outperform rating on the company's shares.
The adjustment follows Crown Holdings' guidance for fourth-quarter 2024 earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $1.45 to $1.55, with a midpoint of $1.50. This outlook is slightly below the Morgan Stanley USA and Bloomberg consensus estimate of $1.52.
Crown Holdings reported a third-quarter 2024 adjusted EPS of $1.99, a 15% increase year-over-year, surpassing both the company's guidance range of $1.75 to $1.85 and the consensus estimates of $1.80 to $1.81. The company's performance was buoyed by a robust 23% year-over-year increase in Beverage Can operating income, which reached $416 million, outperforming the Morgan Stanley USA and consensus projections of $370 million.
The company attributed the strong results to a 5% increase in can shipments, which contributed to the impressive operating income figures. Despite the success in the global Beverage Can segment, Crown Holdings noted that the overall strong performance was somewhat tempered by weaker results in its other business areas.
In light of the company's year-to-date trends and its third-quarter performance, Mizuho has revised its full-year EPS expectations for Crown Holdings. The firm has increased the midpoint of its full-year EPS forecast by $0.17, adjusting it to $6.30 from the previously anticipated $6.13.
The analyst from Mizuho emphasized the balanced nature of Crown Holdings' performance, stating that the strong results in the global Beverage Can segment continue to be partially offset by softness in other business areas. Nevertheless, the firm remains confident in the company's prospects, leading to the decision to increase the price target to $110.
In other recent news, Crown Holdings Inc. outperformed Q3 expectations and subsequently elevated its full-year forecast, primarily due to robust performance across its global beverage can businesses. The packaging products manufacturer reported an adjusted earnings per share of $1.99 for Q3, surpassing the analyst consensus of $1.81. Revenue was reported at $3.07 billion, meeting expectations.
Crown Holdings experienced a 5% improvement in global beverage shipments during the quarter, with Brazil, Europe, Mexico, and the United States all noting increases of 5% or more. This contributed to a 10% year-over-year increase in segment income, reaching $472 million.
For the full year, Crown Holdings now anticipates adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $6.25 to $6.35, an increase from its previous guidance of $6.00 to $6.25 and ahead of the analyst consensus of $6.15. The company's projections for the fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share range between $1.45 and $1.55.
In the first nine months, Crown Holdings generated $897 million in cash from operating activities and $668 million in adjusted free cash flow. The company also repurchased $117 million of common stock during this period. These are among the recent developments for Crown Holdings.
InvestingPro Insights
Crown Holdings' recent performance and Mizuho's optimistic outlook are further supported by real-time data from InvestingPro. The company's market capitalization stands at $11.19 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the packaging industry. Crown Holdings has demonstrated strong profitability, with a P/E ratio of 26.06 and an adjusted P/E ratio of 22.21 for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Crown Holdings' financial stability and growth potential. The company has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years, indicating a commitment to shareholder returns. This is particularly noteworthy given the challenging economic environment. Additionally, Crown Holdings is trading near its 52-week high, which aligns with Mizuho's bullish stance and increased price target.
The company's valuation implies a strong free cash flow yield, suggesting efficient capital management. This could provide Crown Holdings with the flexibility to invest in growth opportunities or return value to shareholders, potentially supporting the positive outlook presented in the article.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 5 additional tips for Crown Holdings, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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