ZURICH, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor (NYSE: AMCR) (ASX:AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, announced the extension of the application period for a new challenge under its Amcor Lift-Off initiative, the Amcor Lift-Off Sprints. The challenge aims to support innovative companies that provide new, innovative compostable or recyclable barrier coatings solutions for paper and other compostable substrates. The Amcor Lift-Off Sprints challenge aims to suppor ...

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1][2] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [3] Zacks Style Scores Overview - The Zacks Style Scores categorize stocks into four main types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score [4][5][6][7] - Each stock receives a rating from A to F based on its characteristics, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [3] Value Score - The Value Score focuses on identifying stocks that are undervalued based on financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [4] Growth Score - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score assesses stocks based on their price trends and earnings outlook, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines the Value, Growth, and Momentum Scores to provide a comprehensive assessment of a stock's attractiveness [7] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to simplify the stock selection process [8] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically delivered an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [9] Stock Selection Strategy - For optimal returns, investors should prioritize stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [11] - Stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also have A or B Scores to maximize upside potential [11] Company Spotlight: Amcor (AMCR) - Amcor is a leading global provider of responsible packaging solutions across various sectors, including food, beverage, and pharmaceuticals [13] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B, Amcor has a Value Style Score of B, supported by a forward P/E ratio of 13.39 [14] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amcor's earnings has recently increased to $0.74 per share, with an average earnings surprise of 1.5% [14]

Amcor plc (AMCR) announced that its previously announced merger deal with Berry Global Group, Inc. (BERY) has cleared another significant step with the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act). Necessary approvals have been received from regulatory authorities in recent weeks, which included antitrust clearances from China and Brazil. Earlier this month, Amcor announced that the shareholders of both companies have approved the combination. The ...

ZURICH, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR; ASX:AMC) ("Amcor") announced today that Amcor Flexibles North America, Inc. ("AFNA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amcor, has priced a private offering (the "Offering") of guaranteed senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of $2.2 billion (collectively, the "Notes"). The Notes consist of (i) US$725,000,000 principal amount of 4.800% Guaranteed Senior Notes due 2028, (ii) US$725,000,000 principal amount of 5.100% Guaranteed Senior Notes due 2 ...

ZURICH and EVANSVILLE, Ind., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor plc ("Amcor") (NYSE: AMCR, ASX: AMC) and Berry Global Group, Inc. ("Berry") (NYSE: BERY) today announced the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 ("HSR Act") in connection with the previously announced combination of the two companies. Expiration of the waiting period satisfies another closing condition necessary for completing the combination. Amcor and Berry Global received U.S. ...

Group 1 - Amcor plc and Berry Global Group, Inc. have made significant progress on their merger deal, with shareholder approval and an expected closing date in mid-2025, subject to closing conditions [1][2] - The merger aims to combine Amcor's global flexibles and regional containers businesses with Berry Global's regional flexibles and global containers and closures businesses, creating a global leader in consumer packaging solutions [2][3] - The merged entity will enhance offerings in flexible film and converted film, providing more sustainable solutions and a unique global healthcare portfolio, while strengthening positions in high-growth categories such as Healthcare, Protein, and Food Service [3][4] Group 2 - Amcor estimates $650 million in benefits from identified costs, growth, and financial synergies by the end of the third year post-closing, along with an additional $280 million in one-time cash benefits from working capital efficiencies [4] - Upon closing, Berry Global's shareholders will receive 7.25 Amcor shares for each share held, resulting in Amcor owning approximately 63% of the combined company, which will have combined revenues of $24 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $4.3 billion [5] - The combined company will service customers in over 140 countries through around 400 production facilities [5] Group 3 - Amcor's stock has gained 15.8% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 12% [6] - Amcor currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), while competitors Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. and RBC Bearings Incorporated have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [8]

Core Points - Amcor, a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, will present at the Bank of America 2025 Global Agriculture and Materials Conference on February 26, 2025 [1] - The presentation will feature CEO Peter Konieczny and CFO Michael Casamento in a fireside chat scheduled for 1.15pm Eastern time [1] - A replay of the presentation will be available on Amcor's investor relations website [2] Company Overview - Amcor specializes in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions across various materials for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care products [2] - The company collaborates with leading global companies to protect products, differentiate brands, and enhance supply chains [2] - In fiscal year 2024, Amcor generated $13.6 billion in annual sales with a workforce of 41,000 across 212 locations in 40 countries [2]

Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at several firms, and also runs a dividend investing YouTube channel [1] - Samuel leads the High Yield Investor investing group, collaborating with Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake to balance safety, growth, yield, and value in investment strategies [2] - The High Yield Investor service provides real-money portfolios for core, retirement, and international investments, along with trade alerts, educational content, and a community chat room for investors [2]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Containers - Paper and Packaging industry is experiencing weak demand due to lower consumer spending amid inflation, but pricing actions are helping to offset supply-chain disruptions and elevated costs [1][6] - The industry is expected to benefit from rising e-commerce activities and increasing demand for sustainable packaging options due to environmental concerns [1][11] Market Dynamics - The industry has seen volume declines as customers reduce inventory, impacting top-line performance [6][7] - Supply-chain disruptions and rising costs for materials, labor, and transportation have led companies to implement cost-reduction measures [7] - E-commerce accounted for over 19% of global retail sales in 2023, with revenues projected to reach $4,324 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 8% from 2025 to 2029 [8][9] Demand Trends - The industry has significant exposure (over 60%) to consumer-oriented markets such as food, beverages, and healthcare, ensuring stable demand across economic cycles [10] - There is a growing preference for eco-friendly packaging materials, driven by increased consumer awareness of environmental issues [11] Industry Performance - The Zacks Containers - Paper and Packaging industry currently ranks 176 out of 248 Zacks industries, placing it in the bottom 29% [12][13] - Over the past year, the industry has gained 9.6%, underperforming the S&P 500's growth of 21.8% but outperforming the Industrial Products sector's 6.9% increase [14] Valuation Metrics - The industry is trading at a forward 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio of 17.97, compared to the S&P 500's 13.96 and the Industrial Products sector's 19.85 [15] Company Highlights - **Sonoco Products Company**: Benefiting from the acquisition of Ball Metalpack, implementing price actions to counter inflation, and expects to achieve an annual EBITDA of $1 billion by 2026 [16][18] - **Packaging Corporation of America**: Reported year-over-year growth in Q4 2024, driven by higher volumes and pricing, with strong demand expected to continue in 2025 [19][20] - **Amcor plc**: Focused on expanding capacity in high-growth segments and has entered a merger agreement with Berry Global Group, expected to yield $650 million in benefits [22][23] - **AptarGroup**: Achieved growth in Q4 2024, particularly in the pharma and closures segments, with a focus on innovative products and acquisitions to drive future growth [25][26]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses seven low-beta dividend stocks that yield between 5% and 14.1%, emphasizing their stability and lower volatility compared to the overall market [1][2][4]. Group 1: Low-Beta Dividend Stocks Overview - Low-beta stocks are characterized by their lower volatility, with betas below one, indicating they move less than the overall market [2][3]. - The focus is on dividend stocks that provide consistent payouts rather than dramatic price movements [2][4]. Group 2: Consumer Staples - Flowers Foods (FLO) has a yield of 5.0% and a five-year beta of 0.37, indicating it is less volatile than the market, although it faced challenges in 2023 due to legal settlements [5][6]. - ConAgra (CAG) offers a 5.6% yield with a five-year beta of 0.27, but has seen declining profits over the past three years, with 2024's net income significantly lower than in 2021 [8][10]. Group 3: Niche Dividend Stocks - Universal Corp. (UVV) operates in the tobacco supply sector, with one- and five-year betas of 0.14 and 0.78, respectively, indicating low volatility [12][14]. - The company is currently under scrutiny due to an internal investigation, which has delayed its quarterly earnings report [15]. Group 4: Healthcare Sector - Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) has a yield of 7.1% and a one-year beta of 0.20, reflecting its stability in the healthcare real estate sector [20][21]. - The stock has recently pulled back amid broader real estate declines, but its valuation has improved, trading at 13 times next year's FFO estimates [22]. Group 5: Energy Sector - Chord Energy (CHRD) yields 9.1% with one- and five-year betas of 0.74 and 0.84, respectively, despite experiencing a significant drop in share price over the past year [23][24]. - The company maintains a strong balance sheet and generates substantial free cash flow, with a return of capital set at 75% of FCF [24][25]. Group 6: Shipping Sector - International Seaways (INSW) boasts a high yield of 14.1% with one- and five-year betas of -0.11 and 0.14, respectively, although its dividend is highly variable and dependent on business conditions [26][27]. - The stock's fundamentals are solid, with low capital expenditures and a low cash-flow breakeven, making it attractive if shipping rates rebound [29].