Core Insights - Axalta Coating Systems' digital paint technology, Axalta NextJet™, has been recognized as a 2025 Automotive News PACE Pilot Innovation to Watch, highlighting its potential impact in the automotive and future mobility sectors [1][4] Company Overview - Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, providing innovative and sustainable coatings solutions across various applications, including light vehicles, commercial vehicles, and industrial uses [5] - The company has over 150 years of experience and serves more than 100,000 customers in over 140 countries [5] Technology Innovation - Axalta NextJet™ is a next-generation digital paint technology that allows for precise paint placement and design flexibility, eliminating the need for masking and reducing labor, energy, and waste [2] - The technology can contribute to a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions and offers significant cost savings for vehicle manufacturers [2] Industry Recognition - The Automotive News PACE Pilot program recognizes innovations that have the potential to transform the automotive industry, with Axalta's technology being selected after a thorough review process [3][4] - The recognition emphasizes the importance of early-stage innovations that can have a long-term impact on productivity and sustainability in the automotive sector [3]

Company Overview - Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) shares increased by 11.5% to close at $31.76, following a significant trading volume compared to typical sessions, despite a 16.1% loss over the past four weeks [1] - The company is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.54 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 12.5%, while revenues are projected to be $1.28 billion, a decrease of 1.4% from the previous year [2] Earnings Estimates and Trends - The consensus EPS estimate for Axalta has been revised 0.8% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive trend that may lead to price appreciation [3] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements, highlighting the importance of monitoring AXTA's performance [2][3] Industry Context - Axalta is part of the Zacks Chemical - Specialty industry, which includes other companies like Minerals Technologies (MTX), whose shares rose by 9.1% to $58.45, despite a -20.2% return over the past month [3] - For Minerals Technologies, the consensus EPS estimate remains unchanged at $1.33, representing a decline of 10.7% from the previous year [4]

PHILADELPHIA, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global coatings company, will release its first quarter 2025 financial results at 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday, May 7. The release and supporting materials will be posted to Axalta’s Investor Relations site. In addition, the company will host a conference call at 8 a.m. ET on May 7. Chris Villavarayan, Chief Executive Officer and President, and Carl Anderson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will revi ...

Group 1: Company Overview - Pitney Bowes (PBI) is a global technology company facilitating billions of transactions in commerce, with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a current year earnings estimate increase of 8% over the last 60 days [1] - BJ's Restaurants (BJRI) operates a chain of high-end casual dining restaurants in the U.S., also holding a Zacks Rank 1, with a current year earnings estimate increase of 13.6% over the last 60 days [2] - Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) is a global coatings company involved in manufacturing and distributing coatings systems, carrying a Zacks Rank 1 and a current year earnings estimate increase of 7.2% over the last 60 days [3] Group 2: Financial Metrics - Pitney Bowes has a PEG ratio of 0.44, which is lower than the industry average of 0.45, and possesses a Growth Score of A [2] - BJ's Restaurants has a PEG ratio of 1.35 compared to the industry average of 2.12, with a Growth Score of B [2] - Axalta Coating Systems has a PEG ratio of 0.76, slightly higher than the industry average of 0.63, and also has a Growth Score of B [3]

Core Insights - Axalta Coating Systems has won two 2025 Edison Awards for its innovative products, with Axalta Irus Scan™ receiving Silver and MyColor receiving Bronze in the Automotive Materials category [1][5] Group 1: Product Innovations - Axalta Irus Scan™ is the first handheld color measurement device for automotive coatings, featuring patented measurement capabilities such as colored sparkle detection, hue-shifting pigments detection, and gloss measurement, which enhances accuracy in color matching for collision repairs [3] - MyColor addresses the demand for complex, custom colors, significantly reducing the time for automotive OEM approvals from 26-104 weeks to just four weeks, while also improving inventory control and reducing waste [4] Group 2: Company Commitment to Innovation - The company emphasizes that innovation is central to its operations, continuously investing in technologies that solve customer challenges related to surface aesthetics, performance, and productivity [2] - Axalta has been recognized for seven consecutive years with Edison Awards, highlighting its commitment to market-leading innovations in new products and services [1][5] Group 3: Company Overview - Axalta is a global leader in the coatings industry, serving over 100,000 customers in more than 140 countries, with a focus on providing sustainable and innovative coating solutions across various applications [6]

Group 1 - Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), while Hawkins (HWKN) has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook for AXTA [3] - Value investors utilize various traditional metrics to identify undervalued companies, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share [4] - AXTA has a forward P/E ratio of 12.42 and a PEG ratio of 0.81, while HWKN has a forward P/E of 25.28 and a PEG ratio of 3.61, suggesting AXTA is more undervalued [5] Group 2 - AXTA's P/B ratio is 3.52 compared to HWKN's P/B of 4.93, further indicating AXTA's relative undervaluation [6] - Based on the valuation metrics, AXTA holds a Value grade of B, while HWKN has a Value grade of D, making AXTA the preferred choice for value investors [6]

Group 1: Product Launch and Innovation - BASF SE has launched three new natural-based products for personal care: Verdessence Maize, Lamesoft OP Plus, and Dehyton PK45 GA/RA [1][2] - Verdessence Maize is a plant-based styling polymer made from renewable feedstocks, offering performance comparable to synthetic polymers [3] - Lamesoft OP Plus is a biodegradable opacifier dispersion that enhances the appearance of formulations, while Dehyton PK45 GA/RA is a betaine derived from Rainforest Alliance Certified coconut oil, suitable for shampoos and cleansers [3] Group 2: Market Position and Performance - BASF's focus on biodegradable solutions aims to capture the conscious consumer market in the personal care sector [3] - The company's stock has declined by 18.4% over the past year, slightly worse than the industry average decline of 17.1% [4] - BASF currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials sector including Ingevity Corporation, Axalta Coating Systems, and Carpenter Technology Corporation [5]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of efficiency ratios in evaluating a company's potential for profitability and stock selection, highlighting that companies with high efficiency levels are expected to deliver better returns [1]. Efficiency Ratios - **Receivables Turnover**: This ratio measures a company's ability to extend credit and collect debts, with a higher ratio indicating better performance in managing accounts receivable [2]. - **Asset Utilization**: This ratio assesses how effectively a company converts its assets into sales, with higher values suggesting greater efficiency [3]. - **Inventory Turnover**: This ratio indicates a company's ability to manage inventory relative to its cost of goods sold (COGS), where a high ratio reflects efficient inventory management [4]. - **Operating Margin**: This ratio measures the proportion of revenue that remains after covering operating expenses, with higher values indicating better expense management [5]. Screening Criteria - The screening process included a favorable Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) alongside the efficiency ratios, narrowing down the stock universe from over 7,906 to just seven candidates [6][7]. Selected Stocks - **Embraer (ERJ)**: A company involved in designing and manufacturing aircraft, with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 138.4% [8]. - **Steelcase (SCS)**: A designer and manufacturer of products for high-performance work environments, showing an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 31.5% [8]. - **Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA)**: A global coatings company with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 16.3% [9].

Core Viewpoint - Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) is currently viewed as a better value opportunity compared to Hawkins (HWKN) based on Zacks Rank and various valuation metrics [1][3][6] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - Axalta Coating Systems has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Hawkins has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The Zacks Rank emphasizes companies with positive earnings estimate revisions, suggesting that AXTA's earnings outlook is improving more significantly than HWKN's [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - AXTA has a forward P/E ratio of 13.70, significantly lower than HWKN's forward P/E of 26.53, indicating that AXTA may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for AXTA is 0.89, while HWKN's PEG ratio is 3.79, further suggesting that AXTA is a more attractive investment based on expected earnings growth [5] - AXTA's P/B ratio is 3.83 compared to HWKN's P/B of 4.85, reinforcing the notion that AXTA is relatively undervalued [6] - Based on these metrics, AXTA holds a Value grade of B, while HWKN has a Value grade of D, indicating a stronger value proposition for AXTA [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article compares Axalta Coating Systems (AXTA) and Novozymes A/S (NVZMY) to determine which stock is more attractive to value investors [1] Valuation Metrics - AXTA has a forward P/E ratio of 14.40, while NVZMY has a forward P/E of 28.56 [5] - AXTA's PEG ratio is 0.93, indicating a more favorable valuation compared to NVZMY's PEG ratio of 2.93 [5] - AXTA has a P/B ratio of 4.04, significantly lower than NVZMY's P/B of 13.55 [6] Investment Ratings - AXTA currently holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), while NVZMY has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [3] - AXTA has experienced stronger estimate revision activity compared to NVZMY, making it a more attractive option for value investors [7] Value Grades - AXTA has a Value grade of B, whereas NVZMY has a Value grade of F, indicating that AXTA is considered undervalued relative to its current share price [6]