Topic: How To Invest

Hi, Pat: Can you please comment on Owens-Illinois? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Owens-Illinois, $24.89, symbol OI on New York (Shares outstanding: 164.9 million; Market cap: $4.2 billion; www.o-i.com), is the largest producer of glass containers in North America, South America, New Zealand and Europe. The company has 77 plants in the U.S., Europe and South America. Customers include brewers, food producers and distillers. The stock is down from over $31 in mid-September, after Owens-Illinois reported that its earnings per share fell 5.0%, to $0.75, in the latest quarter. Weakness in North America and the Asia-Pacific region offset improvements in South America and Europe. The company’s long-term outlook is positive, but its growth will likely remain sluggish in the near term, as low profitability in the Asia-Pacific region and North America continues to hold back results. The falling value of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar will also keep hurting contributions from its international operations. The stock trades at…