Nov 7 (Reuters) - Air Products APD.N beat Wall Street's expectations for fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, as the industrial gases manufacturer benefited from strength in Asian and European markets.
In August, manufacturing activity in the eurozone displayed robust performance driven by resilient demand, while Chinese exports grew at the fastest pace seen in almost a year and a half, as businesses prepare for anticipated tariffs from various trade partners.
Europe and Asia, Air Products' second and third largest revenue sources, experienced substantial growth in operating income in the quarter, with both regions increasing by almost 23-24%.
The Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania-based company's total operating income rose nearly 15% to $848.8 million in the fourth quarter, without including the proceeds from the sale of its liquefied natural gas business to Honeywell.
The company forecast 2025 adjusted earnings in the range of $12.70 to $13.00 per share, reflecting the sale of its LNG business to Honeywell HON.O, falling short of analysts' estimates of $13.31 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.
UK-based rival Linde LIN.DE also beat analysts' expectations for quarterly profit last month but warned of a slowdown in its end markets and trimmed its full-year profit forecast.
Air Products posted an adjusted profit of $3.56 per share in the July-September quarter, compared to analysts' estimates of $3.48 per share.
(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
((Srivastava.Vallari@thomsonreuters.com;))
Comments