AZZ Acquires Powergrid Solutions, Grows Switchgear Business

AZZ Inc. (NYSE:AZZ) , announced the acquisition of Powergrid Solutions, Inc., a privately held company, based in Oshkosh, WI. However, the terms of the agreement were kept under wraps.

Addition of Powergrid Solutions, a maker of low and medium-voltage switchgear systems, will create new opportunities for AZZ. Further, the company will now have an expanded portfolio of customized switchgear solutions on offer for its existing and new customers.

AZZ’s Gain from Acquisition

Powergrid Solutions' product portfolio mainly includes metal-enclosed, metal-clad and padmount switchgear and it caters to the utility, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets. The acquisition will be accretive to AZZ’s performance and earnings growth from the first year of operation itself as it will expand the company’s switchgear market. The buyout will greatly benefit the company’s Energy Segment that delivers safe and reliable power from generation sources to end customers.

AZZ’s Expansion Plans

AZZ intends to pursue growth and increase customer base through acquisition of companies or assets that aid expansion of its existing service offerings along with increasing geographic footprint.

The company believes that improved project spending during the second half of the year through organic growth investments will improve revenues going forward. Additionally, its focus on strengthening existing switchgear business to drive future sales is in line with the company’s strategic growth initiatives. Notably, this business has witnessed a pickup in orders in recent times.

Price Movement

In the last six months, AZZ has underperformed the industry. The company’s shares lost 15.1% against the industry’s gain of 3.2%.

AZZ’s Energy and Metal Coatings segments could not generate the desired level operating income during the past year. This can be attributed to the company’s struggling industrial platform that faced low refinery turnaround activity, generating revenues from only two projects instead of three as previously anticipated.

Stocks to Consider

AZZ currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors can consider better-ranked stocks like Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (KALU), AGCO Corporation (AGCO) and Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) from the broader sector. All the three stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Kaiser Aluminum delivered an average surprise of 17.24% in the trailing four quarters. Its 2017 estimates have risen by 13.5% to $5.45 per share in the last 60 days.

AGCO Corporation delivered an average surprise of 10.11% in the trailing four quarters. Its 2017 estimates have risen by 9.4% to $3.03 per share in the last 60 days.

Columbus McKinnon delivered an average surprise of 10.70% in the trailing four quarters. Its 2017 estimates have risen by 11.6%t to $1.93 per share in the last 60 days.

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