United Technologies Stock in 2018

There are two main themes to United Technologies Corporation(NYSE:UTX) coming year. The first is the completion of the acquisition of Rockwell Collins, Inc (NYSE:COL) and the second is the continuation in development of United Technologies's long-term strategic objectives.

The investment thesis for the stock isn't really about its near-term earnings potential -- analysts are expecting just 3% EPS growth in 2018 -- but rather how the company is positioning itself for long-term earnings growth. Let's take a look at current progress and what the company needs to do in 2018.

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UPS Stock in 2018

Another year and another period of FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) stock performance trouncing that of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS). In fact, UPS stock is flat on a year-to-date basis at the time of writing. It's all very disappointing because UPS is supposed to be a way to play booming growth in e-commerce transactions. What's going on, and what should investors look out for in 2018?

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Why Caterpillar's stock soared in 2017

It's not hard to see the overlying reason why Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)stock is up nearly 50% in 2017 at the time of this writing. The simple explanation is earnings expectations have more than doubled since the start of its financial year as management raised full-year 2017 adjusted profit per share guidance from $2.90 to $6.25. Here's a look at just how and why this happened

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Stocks Benefiting From Trump's Trip to China

President Trump's plans to readdress the trade deficit got a boost from his trade mission to China, with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announcing around $250 billion in trade deals for U.S companies. The majority of the deals were signed as part of the recent CEO delegation to China, and there's little doubt about Trump's determination to defend U.S. interests.

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Focus on GE's Power Segment

It's hard to understate the importance of General Electric Co.'s (NYSE:GE) power segment for investors. It's long been the company's core business, and given that CEO John Flannery's plans are to focus GE on power, healthcare, and aviation, it's clear his ability to return the ailing segment to form will be a key factor in any investment thesis around the stock. GE may well get power back on track, but if so, it's still going to take time, and it might not be as easy as many people think. Here's what you need to know.

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Is General Electric's Dividend Safe

General Electric Company's (NYSE:GE) previous annual dividend of $0.96 per share has been reduced to $0.48, but is even this payout sustainable? The reason for the cut was that earnings and cash flow fell well short of expectations in 2017 and management needs to improve performance going forward. That said, let's take a look at the plans CEO John Flannery recently outlined at the investor update, and whether they make GE's new dividend truly sustainable or not. 

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Can Caterpillar's Stock Keep Soaring

The nearly 48% increase in Caterpillar Inc.'s (NYSE:CAT) stock price over the past year has taken the stock up to heady-looking valuations that can only be justified if the company keeps raising earnings guidance. That kind of statement usually leads to concluding that the stock's priced to perfection and significant downside risk exists. That may well be a valid conclusion, but Caterpillar did raise guidance again on its third-quarter earnings report, and its end markets continue to strengthen. Can the stock's run continue?

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Danaher Corporation Stock Research

Danaher Corporation's (NYSE:DHR) third-quarter earnings saw the company return to form by generating core margin expansion and 3% core revenue growth. On a reported basis, revenue increased 9.5% and adjusted diluted EPS increased 15% in the quarter. Moreover, Danaher shrugged off the negative impact of hurricanes in reporting its strongest quarter of the year. Let's look at the quarter and what it's changed about the investment thesis for the stock.

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Key Conclusions From GE's Investor Update

On Monday, General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) CEO John Flannery finally updated investors on his strategic plan for the company, and by now, most investors will know that it involves cutting the annual dividend yield in half to $0.48. The dividend cut is painful, but if it helps get the company back on track and the stock price appreciates accordingly, most investors would be happy. Indeed, Flannery took center stage during the update conference call in order to convince shareholders that he is the man for the job. However, in analyzing the presentation, it becomes clear that the person responsible for executing the plan is probably going to be someone else. Let's take a look at the key takeaways from the update and find out who that person is.

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Time to Buy Dover Corporation Stock

In a stock market in which it's getting harder to and harder to find good value stocks, diversified industrial manufacturer Dover Corporation(NYSE:DOV) might just fit the bill. It's a dividend investor favorite, and management has exciting plans to release value for shareholders in the future. Let's take a closer look at what makes Dover attractive for investors. 

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GE Power business

Power is General Electric Company's (NYSE:GE) core strength, and its gas turbines are usually seen as its single most important product. As such, it's concerning that the power segment is the main source of the company's recent troubles. In my view, if you're considering an investment in GE's stock, then you need to know what's going on with its power segment. So here's the lowdown on GE Power.

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AgroFresh Earnings Review

Superficially, the third-quarter earnings from AgroFresh Solutions, Inc.(NASDAQ:AGFS) weren't anything to write home about, but a closer look reveals some underlying positivity. Management has been busy diversifying the company's revenue streams and cutting costs, and some of the benefits are starting to come through. Let's take a look at the results in more detail.

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Cognex Corporation Earnings Review

On the face of it, the record third-quarter earnings report from machine vision company Cognex (NASDAQ:CGNX) was little short of sensational. A combination of nearly 80% revenue growth and an around 90% increase in net income from continuing operations would normally be enough to thrill investors, but Cognex's management had already prepared them for a "monster" quarter.

In reality, the takeaways from the quarter are more nuanced than just the headline numbers, so let's take a closer look at them.

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Roper Technologies Earnings Review

Multi-industry industrial company Roper Technologies, Inc (NYSE:ROP)on Monday reported strong third-quarter earnings that helped illustrate the benefits of its asset-light business model and ongoing transition toward more software-based revenue streams. While the quarter wasn't without blemishes, the results reveal a company making strong progress following a difficult 2016.

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BorgWarner Earnings Review

The global auto market is slowing, but you wouldn't know it from the latest results from vehicle technology company BorgWarner, Inc (NYSE:BWA). The company has consistently demonstrated an ability to outgrow its end markets. As a consequence, its strong set of third-quarter results encouraged management to raise full-year guidance and left analysts wondering if BorgWarner's earnings growth could accelerate. Let's take a look at what happened in the third quarter.

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WESCO International Earnings Review

Despite having a tough year WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC) stock is only down single digits on the year so far. After a difficult first half, the supply chain solutions provider finally reported the kind of revenue growth commensurate with a strengthening industrial economy.

That said, the margin performance and earnings guidance may have disappointed some investors. Let's take a look at a mixed set of earnings for the company.

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What John Flannery Wants to Change at GE

General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) CEO John Flannery will outline his strategy for the company at the GE Investor Update event on Nov. 13. There's plenty of anticipation about the event from beleaguered investors hoping he can set the company, and the stock price, on the right path. While Flannery's exact plans will be outlined in a few weeks, his comments on the recent, and tumultuous, third-quarter earnings call offered a broad-based overview of what to expect.

So let's look at what was said and how it differs from Jeff Immelt's running of the company

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Is Rockwell Automation a Buy?

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) is well known as a backdoor way to play growth in the industrial internet of things (IIOT). However, its 50% stock-price surge in the past year is probably more a matter of having its string of earnings upgrades come largely from improving capital spending trends in industrial automation.

The company heads into its fourth-quarter earnings on Nov. 8 with a lot of momentum, but given its high valuation on a current and forward basis, management probably needs to demonstrate its strong run can continue. In this context, let's look at the three things to focus on in the results presentations.

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Dassault Systemes Earnings Analysis

Engineering design software company Dassault Systemes (NASDAQOTH:DASTY) reported a mixed set of third-quarter results. The underlying earnings are strong and the company is strategically setting itself up for long-term growth with its new licenses sales and exciting deals with large companies like Boeing and Scania. However, there was some near-term weakness in services revenue, and management was forced to lower full-year margin and earnings expectations due to adverse currency movements. Let's take a closer look at the quarter.

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Robert Half Earnings Review

Leading staffing company Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE:RHI) always gives good color on employment trends, and if its latest third-quarter results are anything to go by, the job market in the U.S. is definitely improving. Meanwhile, the company's international revenue growth remains strong. That said, there were still a couple of weak areas in the company's earnings report.

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General Electric Earnings Review: A Stock to Buy?

By now, most investors know that General Electric Company's (NYSE:GE) third-quarter earnings fell way short of expectations. Furthermore, the reduction in full-year guidance signals ongoing weakness in the overall business -- issues that are unlikely to be resolved in a quarter or two.

Let's look at the key issues that long-term investors need to understand from the earnings report.

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Caterpillar Earnings Preview

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) stock has soared in 2017, on the back of a string of consensus-busting earnings and analyst upgrades. The main reason has been its improving construction, mining, and energy industry verticals. Moreover, analysts have recently raised price targets for the stock in anticipation of a strong set of third-quarter earnings.

Clearly, the company has a lot of good momentum behind it, but can it continue? Let's preview the earnings report that comes out on Oct. 24 to see what investors need to keep an eye out for.

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3M Earnings Preview

Given that 3M Co (NYSE:MMM) and its fellow multi-industrial company Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) trade at a premium compared to earnings multiples in the last decade (see below) there will be increased pressure on both companies to deliver in the coming quarters. Focusing on 3M, let's take a look at the three things investors need to look out for when the company reports earnings on Oct 24th. 

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GE CFO Jeff Bornstein Leaving

The news that General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) CFO Jeff Bornstein will leave at the end of the year caught the market by surprise. But how much should investors really worry about the news? After all, Bornstein is an industry veteran with 28 years of service to GE, so his departure could be a completely natural move.  

However, I happen to think his departure could be something deserving close attention from investors. Here's why.

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Honeywell International Preview

It's been a good year so far for Honeywell International (NYSE:HON). The stock is up nearly 24% year to date, and management has raised the bottom end of its full-year earnings guidance range in the first two earnings reports.

In order to judge whether its good run can continue, let's preview the key things to look out for from each segment when Honeywell reports its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 20.

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United Technologies Earnings Preview

United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) reports its third-quarter earnings on Oct. 24, and there's a lot for investors in the company and the industrial sector at large to focus on. Here are the key things for investors to look out for in each of United Technologies' four segments.

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AZZ Inc Earnings Analysis

Having previously updated full-year 2018 guidance at the end of September, investors were already prepared for the negative news in AZZ Inc's (NYSE:AZZ) second-quarter results. Management gave a plethora of reasons why AZZ's performance is lagging expectations in fiscal 2018 and promptly guided investors toward thinking about a stronger 2019.

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Should I Buy FedEx Corporation Stock?

We've already considered the bearish case for FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX). The glass-half-empty viewpoint focuses on the margin pressures that the ground operations of both FedEx and rival United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) face from growing e-commerce deliveries. Both companies are having to make substantial capital investments to service e-commerce growth, which is crimping free-cash-flow generation. FedEx also faces execution risks in integrating TNT Express.

Now let's consider...

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General Electric's Turbines Face Competition From Siemens

Power matters to General Electric Company (NYSE:GE). The segment generated more than 28% of industrial profit in 2016 and is GE's best-known activity, with gas turbines being its most important product. Indeed, GE's success with its market-leading H-class turbine has broken world records for efficiency and driven order growth at the segment. That said, there are reasons to believe GE might come under pressure in the future, and here's how and why it matters.

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Time to Sell FedEx Corporation Stock?

Given the 26% rise in FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) stock in the last year, investors should reassess the value proposition of the stock. After all, as you can see below, FedEx has been trading at a higher valuation than where it was during most of the period since 2010, and it has had a cash outflow of $186 million in its fiscal year ending in May. In this article, I will focus particularly on the bear case against buying the stock and then follow up with the bull case in a future article.

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GE Sells a Business to ABB

The agreement by ABB Ltd. (NYSE:ABB) to buy the industrial solutions business of General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) sheds new light onto the strategic plans of both companies, and arguably makes them more investable. Let's take a look at the deal and what it means for investors in both stocks.

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5 Takeaways From FedEx's Earnings

While the media's attention was firmly focused on the $300 million income hit from a cyberattack, FedEx Corporation's (NYSE:FDX) recent earnings presentations contained a whole lot more useful information for investors. Let's look at the five key takeaways from the earnings and how they might affect the investment thesis behind buying both FedEx and, by extension, United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) stock.

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General Electric Should Sell its Healthcare Business

General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) CEO John Flannery has a job to do if he wants to restore investors' confidence in the blue chip industrial stock in 2017. Previous CEO Jeff Immelt's last earnings call saw management lower earnings and cash flow expectations to the low end of guidance ranges, and Flannery needs to start his tenure by setting a positive tone.

One way he could do so is by selling or spinning off GE Healthcare. Here's why.

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General Electric and United Technologies Are Facing Changes

By coincidence, General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE), and United Technologies Corp.(NYSE:UTX) are both under significant pressure to undertake far-reaching strategic restructurings. Let's take a look at what's going on, and how these changes might affect the investment proposition for each stock.

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FedEx Earnings Analysis

By now, most investors know that FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX) was hit by a malware attack earlier this year. The impact was significant, with a $300 million income hit to FedEx's newly acquired TNT Express business.

With that in mind, let's take a broad-based view at FedEx's fourth-quarter earnings.

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Parker Hannifin, Emerson Electric, Stanley Black & Decker

Investors in industrial companies Parker-Hannifin Corp (NYSE:PH), Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (NYSE:SWK) and Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR) have all seen their stocks rise strongly in 2017, only to correct after their last set of results and then bounce back. With the recovery in U.S. industrial production now firmly in place, is this a good time to sell and look for the next investment? Alternatively, are these stocks still a good value?

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Owens Corning is a Very Attractive Stock

Despite a stellar rise in its stock price this year, shares of Owens Corning (NYSE:OC) still offer investors a good value. While other areas of the stock market are starting to look expensive, Owens Corning's stock price rise has been backed by earnings guidance hikes and ongoing strategic improvements which are preparing the company for good long-term growth.

There are two key arguments that make it a good buy, which I'll go into in detail below:

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Rockwell Automation; A Stock o Buy?

Following a strong run in 2017, the stock price of Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) corrected a bit following the third-quarter earnings report. In general, it's been a good year for the industrials sector, as U.S. industrial production growth has picked up, creating earnings tailwinds for companies such as Rockwell that have heavy exposure to cyclical capital spending.

That said, the industrials sector could face a tricky period in the second half of 2017. Does that mean it's time to sell stock in Rockwell Automation?

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Best Railroad Stocks to Buy

Railroads are always worth looking at for those seeking good dividend growth prospects. But since no two railroads will have exactly the same dividend or growth potential, let's consider which ones are best for income seekers.

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2 Dividend Aristocrats to Buy?

Income-seeking investors love buying dividend aristocrats -- stocks that have increased their dividends for more than years -- so when their stock prices fall it's a good idea to look at buying them. As you can see below, automotive and industrial replacement parts distributor Genuine Parts Company (NYSE:GPC) and industrial supply company WW Grainger Inc (NYSE:GWW)have significantly underperformed the S & P 500 so far in 2017, with Amazon.com(NASDAQ:AMZN) playing a big role in both declines. Let's take a closer look at whether these stocks are worth buying right now.

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Key Takeaways From Deere & Co Earnings

The strong run-up in the stock price of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE) was rudely interrupted by the negative reaction to the recent third-quarter earnings report. Why did the market react like this when the company raised full-year net income guidance from $2 billion to $2.075 billion? To try answering this question, let's look at the five key takeaways from the earnings presentations

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Why Caterpillar Stock is Soaring

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) investors have enjoyed watching their stock appreciate nearly 24% in 2017 and 38% in the past year, so perhaps now it's time to take a step backward and look at just what's happened to propel the price higher. The construction and mining equipment company has outperformed the S&P 500 by some 15% this year, so clearly there's something stock-specific going on. 

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Siemens Earnings and Fall Through for GE Investors

It's been a difficult year for General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) investors as they have watched their stock decline 22% year to date while the S&P 500 is up by more than 8%. The decline is largely due to the company lowering expectations to the bottom end of its guidance ranges, amid disappointing performance from its oil and gas and power segments. While the oil and gas issue looks to be a case of expectations being set too high, the power segment's issues could be more troubling in the long term. In order to get more color on what's going on in GE's power segment, let's take a look at what its key rival Siemens AG (NASDAQOTH:SIEGY) said in its recent results.

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CSX Corp Earnings Analysis

Investors hoping that CSX Corp. CEO Hunter Harrison will bring about the operational improvements required to justify the optimism that's currently baked into its stock price may want to benchmark its performance against peers Union Pacific Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. The former is its closest peer in terms of valuation, and the latter is its most important direct competitor. In this line of thought, let's take a look at what Harrison needs to do at the freight railroad operator, and whether its most recent earnings report suggests he's starting to make a difference.

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AgroFresh Earnings Analysis

It was a relatively uneventful quarter for AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGFS), and that's fine for investors. The company's earnings reports have caused a significant amount of stock price volatility in the past. However, this time around the results were pretty much as expected, and investors slept soundly after them. That said, what really matters for the company are the upcoming quarters (which contain the northern hemisphere fruit harvest). With this in mind, let's take a look at the results and commentary from the second-quarter earnings report.

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HVAC Sector Stock Analysis

Following a strong rise in the past year, Ingersoll-Rand PLC's (NYSE:IR) stock has corrected in recent weeks alongside competitors in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) space such as United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) and Lennox International Inc. (NYSE:LII). Clearly, something about the HVAC sector has spooked the market, so let's take a look at the underlying dynamics in all three companies' earnings, and specifically Ingersoll-Rand as an investment proposition. Is it a structural problem that's set to last or merely a temporary issue?

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How Caterpillar Makes Money?

Analyzing how Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) makes money is a useful exercise for investors because it sheds light on what investors need to know before buying the stock right now. In a nutshell, the stock's near-40% rise in the past year has been propelled by its positive earnings momentum, which is largely due to an improvement in its end markets. So in order to take a view on whether this can continue, it's useful to know how Caterpillar makes money

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