Why Azek Stock Is Soaring Today
Construction materials manufacturer Azek (NYSE: AZEK) is in an agreement to be acquired, and investors are excited about the premium being paid.
Shares of Azek were up 16% as of 10 a.m. ET after the company agreed to be acquired by Australia's James Hardie Industries (NYSE: JHX) for $8.75 billion, including debt.
Azek manufacturers decking made primarily of recycled materials, offering a more eco-friendly and sustainable option for homeowners. Hardie, which is based in Australia but does most of its business in the U.S., knows this niche well as the maker of Hardie board fiber cement siding.
On Monday, Hardie announced an agreement to acquire Azek for $56.88 per share, a premium of 26% to the target's average price over the past 30 days. Terms of the deal call for Azek holders to receive $26.45 in cash and 1.034 Hardie shares for each Azek share they own.
Azek management said the deal provides the company with the resources of a larger enterprise, but the share portion allows investors to capture some of the upside.
"Together with James Hardie, we are delivering value to Azek shareholders and providing them meaningful participation in the long-term secular and financial growth opportunities created by the combined company," CEO Jesse Singh said.
Azek shares are up on Monday, but they are well below the published $56.88 acquisition price. However, that is no reason for investors to pile in. James Hardie shares are down 19% on the news, lowering the value of the stock portion of the deal.
There is more risk than reward for investors considering jumping in here. Hardie is buying Azek at a time of uncertainty in the U.S. housing market, and its share reaction is an indication its investors are worried. Though the deal is likely to win approval and close eventually, there is more risk that the deal does not go through, and Azek shares fall as a result, than that another bidder will come in and top Hardie's offer.
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $305,226!*
Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $41,382!*
Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $517,876!*
Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of March 24, 2025
Lou Whiteman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Why Azek Stock Is Soaring Today was originally published by The Motley Fool

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Boeing (BA) Jumps 5.9% on Spirit Merger Progress
Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is one of the . The Boeing Company grew its share prices by 5.91 percent on Friday to close at $214.55 apiece following news that its plan to acquire its former subsidiary, Spirit Aerosystems, is now progressing to secure regulatory approvals. This followed the UK Competition and Markets Authority's invitation from interested parties to help inform a decision on The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) and Spirit Aerosystems' proposed re-merger. A commercial jetliner parked at an airport, reflecting the companies success in aviation. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) spun off Spirit Aerosystems' plants in Wichita and Oklahoma in 2005, and announced to reacquire the former unit for $4.7 billion last year in a bid to streamline its operations and improve quality control, ending nearly two decades of independence of the world's largest standalone aerostructures company. Meanwhile, The Boeing Company's (NYSE:BA) competitor, Airbus, finalized a deal to acquire several Spirit AeroSystems facilities tied to its aircraft programs. While we acknowledge the potential of BA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
James Hardie (JHX) Jumps 7% as Analyst Turns Bullish
James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) is one of the . James Hardie extended its winning streak to a fifth straight day on Friday, jumping 7.06 percent to close at $27.59 apiece as investor sentiment was bolstered by a bullish rating from an analyst. In its market note on Friday, William Blair gave the company an 'outperform' rating with a price target of $33, or a 19.6-percent upside from its latest closing price. A close-up of a house with its exterior siding made from the company's fiber cement building materials. According to William Blair, James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) holds a strong position in the fast-growing siding and composite decking categories, and is capable of growing its sales between 10 and 12 percent, and EBITDA between 12 and 15 percent. Additionally, optimism was supported by its acquisition of The AZEK Company, which it said would create a leading exterior and outdoor living building products growth platform with efficient scale and profitability supported by leading brands driving material conversion. James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) acquired The AZEK Company in March this year for $8.8 billion as part of its growth strategy. While we acknowledge the potential of JHX as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Investors in Solaris Energy Infrastructure (NYSE:SEI) have seen incredible returns of 406% over the past five years
Buying shares in the best businesses can build meaningful wealth for you and your family. And we've seen some truly amazing gains over the years. For example, the Solaris Energy Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:SEI) share price is up a whopping 307% in the last half decade, a handsome return for long term holders. And this is just one example of the epic gains achieved by some long term investors. On top of that, the share price is up 27% in about a quarter. But this move may well have been assisted by the reasonably buoyant market (up 11% in 90 days). So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Solaris Energy Infrastructure's earnings per share are down 9.5% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years. This means it's unlikely the market is judging the company based on earnings growth. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics. The modest 1.7% dividend yield is unlikely to be propping up the share price. On the other hand, Solaris Energy Infrastructure's revenue is growing nicely, at a compound rate of 19% over the last five years. It's quite possible that management are prioritizing revenue growth over EPS growth at the moment. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. If you are thinking of buying or selling Solaris Energy Infrastructure stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Solaris Energy Infrastructure, it has a TSR of 406% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! It's nice to see that Solaris Energy Infrastructure shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 246% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 38% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Solaris Energy Infrastructure better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 6 warning signs for Solaris Energy Infrastructure (of which 3 can't be ignored!) you should know about. Solaris Energy Infrastructure is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of small cap companies at attractive valuations which insiders have been buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.