Earnings Preview: Air Products and Chemicals (APD) Q3 Earnings Expected to Decline

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year decline in earnings for Air Products and Chemicals despite higher revenues, with a focus on how actual results compare to estimates impacting stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected to show quarterly earnings of $2.98 per share, reflecting a -6.9% year-over-year change, while revenues are projected at $3.02 billion, up 1.1% from the previous year [3]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 0.03% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a slight bullish sentiment among analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates a positive Earnings ESP of +0.16% for Air Products and Chemicals, suggesting analysts have recently become more optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [12]. - However, the stock holds a Zacks Rank of 4, which complicates the prediction of an earnings beat [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Air Products and Chemicals had an expected EPS of $2.84 but delivered only $2.69, resulting in a surprise of -5.28% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates twice [14]. Industry Context - Another player in the chemical industry, Albemarle, is expected to report a loss of $0.83 per share, with revenues projected at $1.24 billion, down 13.1% year-over-year [18][19]. - Albemarle's consensus EPS estimate has been revised 36% lower recently, but it has a positive Earnings ESP of +21.13%, although it also carries a Zacks Rank of 4 [19][20].