Valvoline builds on its operations

Article Excerpt

VALVOLINE INC. $19 (New York symbol VVV; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 188.2 million; Market cap: $3.6 billion; Dividend yield: 2.2%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.valvoline.com) is a leading maker of motor oil, lubricants and other automotive chemicals such as antifreeze. The company also operates 1,300 Quick Lubes oil change centres in the U.S. and Canada. In September 2016, Ashland Global Holdings Inc. (New York symbol ASH) sold a 17% Valvoline stake through an IPO at $22.00 a share. In May 2017, Ashland handed out its remaining VVV shares to its own investors. In its fiscal 2019 second quarter, ended March 31, 2019, Valvoline’s sales rose 3.9%, to $591 million from $569 million a year earlier. That’s due to the opening of 186 new Quick Lubes locations in the past year. Overall earnings fell 1.5%, to $67 million from $68 million; due to fewer shares outstanding, per-share earnings rose 2.9%, to $0.35 from $0.34. Valvoline expects to earn between $1.27 and $1.33 a share for…