Howmet’s high p/e adds risk

Article Excerpt

HOWMET AEROSPACE INC. $46 is a hold. The company (New York symbol HWM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 413.3 million; Market cap: $19.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.1; Dividend yield: 0.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.howmet.com) makes a range of industrial parts, from jet engine components and fasteners to forged aluminum wheels. Revenue in the second quarter of 2023, rose 18.3%, to $1.65 billion from $1.39 billion a year earlier. That’s due to a 23% jump at its commercial aerospace division (47% of total revenue). Revenue at its military aerospace business (16%) also rose 17%. Savings from a restructuring plan lifted earnings by 35.5%, to $0.44 a share from $0.35 a share. The stock now trades at 26.6 times the $1.73 a share that Howmet will probably earn in 2023. That’s a high multiple for a cyclical industrial products firm. The $0.16 dividend yields 0.3%. Howmet Aerospace is a hold. hold. …