Air Products to Build Malaysia's First LNG-Based Air Separation Unit

Air Products and Chemicals is positioned to potentially beat earnings estimates again in its next quarterly report, according to Zacks Investment Research. The industrial gas supplier has topped estimates in each of its last two reports, with an average surprise of 4.10% over that span. In the most recent quarter, it reported $3.47 per share against a consensus estimate of $3.36, a surprise of 3.27%, after posting $3.2 per share versus an estimate of $3.05 in the prior quarter, a surprise of 4.92%. The company currently carries an Earnings ESP of +0.79% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), a combination Zacks research shows produces a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time.

Elliott Investment Management, which advises funds holding a significant economic interest in L'Air Liquide S.A., issued a statement welcoming the value-creating initiatives announced as part of Air Liquide's new strategic plan at its 2026 Capital Markets Day. Elliott highlighted the company's target to improve margins by 400 to 600 basis points by 2030 and its first-ever large share buyback, which the activist investor said should start immediately. The firm also pointed to Air Liquide's targets for annual growth of 5% in revenue and 10% in EPS through 2030, saying they highlight the strength of its business and the opportunities in AI, electronics, healthcare and space. Elliott called the announcements a positive first step that reflects the company's traditionally prudent approach and leaves room for significant outperformance, and said it looks forward to continued constructive dialogue as Air Liquide works to close margin and valuation gaps with peers. Elliott Investment Management manages approximately $80.3 billion of assets as of June 30, 2026, and was founded in 1977.

Air Liquide unveiled a new strategic plan through 2030 on Monday, targeting annual growth in recurring net earnings per share of about 10% and launching its first-ever share buyback program, worth €4 billion over 2027-2028. The plan, named BEYOND, aims for compound annual growth of 10%, plus or minus 2 percentage points, in recurring net EPS from the end of 2025 to the end of 2030, along with recurring return on capital employed above 11% in 2030. The French industrial gases group expects sales to grow at a compound annual rate of 5%, plus or minus 1 point, outpacing industrial production by a factor of two to three, and targets a cumulative operating margin improvement of 400 to 600 basis points over 2026-2030. Capital allocation of more than €40 billion over the period will cover investments, acquisitions, dividends and buybacks, with more than half going toward industrial investments and acquisitions and about €24 billion in industrial investment decisions planned. Air Liquide named four priority markets — electronics and artificial intelligence, energy transition, healthcare and space — and said it expects electronics sales to grow at a weighted average annual rate above 10% over 2026-2030. CEO François Jackow said the group's profitability now allows it to go beyond reinvestment, including through the buyback and annual employee share purchase plans, and the company reaffirmed a 33% cut in Scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 2035 from 2020 levels and carbon neutrality by 2050.