Why CCL Industries Inc. Is Soaring Over 7%

CCL Industries Inc. (TSX:CCL.B) is soaring over 7% following its Q4 2017 earnings release. Is there still time to buy?

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CCL Industries Inc. (TSX:CCL.B), a world leader in specialty label, security, and packaging solutions, announced its fiscal 2017 fourth-quarter and full-year earnings results and a dividend increase this morning, and its stock has responded by soaring over 7% at the open of trading. Let’s break down the earnings release to determine if the stock could continue higher from here and if we should be long-term buyers today.

The results that ignited the rally

Here’s a quick breakdown of six of the most notable statistics from CCL’s three-month period ended December 31, 2017, compared with the same period in 2016:

Metric Q4 2017 Q4 2016 Change
Total sales $1,234.5 million $1,058.4 million 16.6%
Gross profit $383.0 million $322.6 million 18.7%
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) $259.0 million $204.3 million 26.8%
Net earnings $169.4 million $98.3 million 72.3%
Adjusted basic earnings per Class B share (EPS) $0.83 $0.59 40.7%
Cash provided by operating activities $286.3 million $254.1 million 12.7%

And here’s a quick breakdown of six notable statistics from CCL’s 12-month period ended December 31, 2017, compared with the same period in 2016:

Metric Fiscal 2017 Fiscal 2016 Change
Total sales $4,755.7 million $3,974.7 million 19.6%
Gross profit $1,436.3 million $1,167.9 million 23%
EBITDA $959.2 million $792.7 million 21%
Net earnings $474.1 million $346.3 million 36.9%
Adjusted EPS $2.69 $2.28 18%
Cash provided by operating activities $711.2 million $564.0 million 26.1%

Putting a smile on shareholders’ faces 

In the press release, CCL also announced a 13% increase to its quarterly dividend $0.13 per share, and the first payment at the increased rate will come on March 30 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16.

Is now the time to buy?

It was a phenomenal quarter and year for CCL, highlighted by record earnings in both periods, and the dividend hike added to the positive sentiment, so I think the +7% pop in its stock is warranted; furthermore, I would still buy the stock today for two fundamental reasons.

First, it still trades at attractive valuations. CCL’s stock currently trades at just 23 times fiscal 2017’s adjusted EPS of $2.69 and only 21.7 times the consensus EPS estimate of $2.85 for fiscal 2018, both of which are inexpensive compared with its five-year average multiple of 25.7; these multiples are also inexpensive given the double-digit percentage earnings-growth rate it achieve in 2017 and its long-term growth potential.

Second, it’s a dividend-growth superstar. CCL now pays an annual dividend of $0.52 per share, which brings its yield up to about 0.8%. A 0.8% yield is far from high, but it’s crucial to note that the dividend increase it just announced has it on track for 2018 to mark the 16th consecutive year in which it has raised its annual dividend payment, making it one of the best dividend-growth stocks in the market today.

Including reinvested dividends, CCL’s stock has now returned more than 120% since I first recommended it on June 24, 2015, and I still think it’s a great buy today, so take a closer look and consider beginning to scale in to long-term positions over the next couple of weeks.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Joseph Solitro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. CCL Industries is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

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