Research Report ►(comments)

Airgas, Inc. distributes various gas products including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, welding and fuel gases, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and process chemicals through some 1,100 retail stores, plants, labs, and distribution centers. The company also offers welding equipment and safety products.

Investment Impacts (help)

USA Country Analysis ► (edit / improve) The United States (US) has a highly productive, capitalist economy and is the largest and most diverse market in the world. Currency: the US dollar (USD) has the potential to increase in value especially versus the Australian and Canadian dollar because of the significant potential of undervalued companies. Investor Survey: the economic environment is very favorable for long term economic growth due to high scores on economic freedom and economic diversity. Trade: China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada are the top US trading partners, while the leading export and import are electrical machinery and vehicles, respectively. Commodity: The US produces a significant amount of coal and wheat for use at home and as an export. However, the US consumes a larger amount of oil, which contributes to their trade deficit. SWOT Analysis: The leading US strength is its entrepreneurial culture, while the main weakness is high health care cost. Energy independence has the opportunity to propel growth, while the major threat is the housing crisis, which will lower growth. Trading Strategy: An undervalued currency, high investment flow potential and favorable business environment lead to a positive outlook for US investments, which will also benefit from positive international actions.

Commodity Investment Impact

Propane Commodity Analysis ► (edit / improve) Propane is derived from oil and natural gas and is used for engines, heating systems, grills… etc. Commodity: Propane is rated a Hold. Propane demanders and suppliers are expected to increase in value over the short term. Investor Survey: Propane’s long term growth potential is moderately favorable due to high scores on sensitivity to price changes and SWOT strengths. SWOT Analysis: Strength: Propane has a limited supply and is considered environmentally friendly. Opportunity to grow: Propane could replace other forms of fuel in small engines to reduce emissions; Threats to growth: carbon monoxide dangers can slow future growth of propane. Trading Strategy: The commodity analysis hold rating indicates that coal should stay the same in price over the short term, whereas a favorable investor survey means coal may increase in price over the long term.

Industrial Industry Analysis ► Edit / Improve

Description: The industrial industry includes companies whose sales originate from the manufacturing of materials into finished goods and services. Read More.

Profit Analysis: The best way to profit from industrial stock investments is to find the most undervalued investments (Wall Street and Main Street buy ratings) during economic recessions. Those investments should be undervalued (see Wall Street on left side), and have high Main Street Common Sense investment ratings (see Main Street on right side). When an economic recovery occurs, industrial stocks tend to outperform the general stock market, because consumers and businesses quickly resume spending on items they wanted, but resisted buying during tougher economic times. Eventually industrial company investments become overvalued, because profits and stock prices increase past their fair values. During the last stages of an economic business cycle, just before a recession, it is best to sell industrial stocks, because they are likely to decrease in price the fastest. Expensive (overvalued) stocks with low Main Street Common Sense ratings should be sold at any time to invest in better stocks. Two buys ratings are the best and two sell ratings are the worst possible stock investments.

Trading Strategy: During economic recessions, consumers tend to cut back on spending to save money and businesses tend to cut back on investments. Less spending decreases industrial business revenue and eventually decreases stock prices. During economic recoveries, consumers and businesses spend quickly to replace or catch up with quickly increasing demand. Higher spending increases industrial business revenue and eventually increases stock prices. During economic expansions, industrial business revenue increases, but at a slower pace than during the recovery stage.

¹ WikiWealth only uses the largest 30 companies in each industry for the basis of these financial measures. Each statistic is the market weighted average of the 30 companies.

² Investment potential (margin of safety) is a weighted average of the discounted cash flow (DCF), the enterprise value (EV) market multiple, and the Warren Buffett investment method.

SWOT Analysis - Airgas ► Add Your Input Below

WACC Discount Rate Analysis - Airgas ► Experiment with ARG's Analysis ►

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis - Airgas ► Experiment with ARG's Analysis ►

Comparative Value Multiple Analysis - Airgas ► Experiment with ARG's Analysis ►

Warren Buffett Intrinsic Value Analysis - Airgas ► Experiment with ARG's Analysis ►

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