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FORTERRA INC (FRTA) Soars to 52-Week High, Time to Cash Out?

Zacks Equity Research

Have you been paying attention to shares of FORTERRA INC (FRTA)? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 14.2% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $12.14 in the previous session. FORTERRA INC has gained 4.4% since the start of the year compared to the -0.1% move for the Zacks Construction sector and the -0.5% return for the Zacks Building Products - Concrete and Aggregates industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on November 4, 2019, FORTERRA INC reported EPS of $0.34 versus consensus estimate of $0.11 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 4.62%.

For the current fiscal year, FORTERRA INC is expected to post earnings of $0.24 per share on $1.51 billion in revenues. Meanwhile, for the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $0.35 per share on $1.56 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 340% and 3.18%, respectively.

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Valuation Metrics

FORTERRA INC may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

FORTERRA INC has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and D, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 50.3X current fiscal year EPS estimates. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 9.1X versus its peer group's average of 9.1X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, FORTERRA INC currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if FORTERRA INC fits the bill. Thus, it seems as though FORTERRA INC shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.

How Does FORTERRA INC Stack Up to the Competition?

Shares of FORTERRA INC have been moving higher, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? Some of its industry peers are also looking good, including Summit Materials (SUM), Eagle Materials (EXP), and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM), all of which currently have a Zacks Rank of at least #2 and a VGM Score of at least B, making them well-rounded choices.

The Zacks Industry Rank is in the top 40% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for FORTERRA INC, even beyond its own solid fundamental situation.


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