Topic: How To Invest

Q: I am wondering what your thoughts are regarding PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG)? Thank you.

Article Excerpt

A: PPG Industries Inc., $149.57, symbol PPG on New York (Shares outstanding: 235.8 million; Market cap: $35.1 billion; Manufacturing sector; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.ppg.com), is the world’s largest producer of coatings and paints for the automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial markets. Its paint brands include PPG, Olympic, Glidden and others. PPG’s revenue rose 2.7%, from $14.75 billion in 2017 to $15.15 billion in 2019, two years later. Sales then fell 8.7% to $13.83 billion in 2020 as business closures due to COVID-19 hurt demand for the company’s products. Revenue then rebounded 21.5% in 2021, to $16.80 billion. In 2022, revenue rose a further 5.1% to $17.65 billion. Between 2017 and 2019, earnings per share rose 6.0%, from $5.87 to $6.22. Per-share earnings then fell 8.4% in 2020 to $5.70. In 2021, earnings per share rebounded 18.8%, to $6.77. Per-share earnings fell 10.6% to $6.05 in 2022 as the company incurred higher expenses. That increase reflects higher labour costs and supply-chain disruptions. In the…