Investopedia: Greif Looks Set Up For An Interesting 2013

The stock of Greif (NYSE:GEF), a company that makes industrial packaging products like drums (steel, fiber or plastic), rigid bulk containers and paper packaging, is one of those that is pretty frustrating to investors, as you have to be willing to buy (or sell) into considerable uncertainty. While 2013 looks like it will be a challenging year for industrial companies, investors are also likely to be on the lookout for signs of bottoming, and Greif could do well on that trade.

Please click here for more:
http://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2012/Greif-Looks-Set-Up-For-An-Interesting-2013-GEF-PKG-SEE-BMS1228.aspx

Investopedia: Can Greif Find A Second Wind In The Second Half?

If you're a company with hefty exposure to industrial markets, these are uncertain times. If you're a company with hefty exposure to European markets, these are scary times. Perhaps it's not so surprising, then, that Greif (NYSE:GEF), a manufacturer of industrial packaging products like steel and plastic drums, is near its 52-week low. With European chemical companies seeming a little more optimistic about the second half of the year, though, maybe this is a stock to consider as a rebound/recovery play.

Continue here:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2012/Can-Greif-Find-A-Second-Wind-In-The-Second-Half-GEF-SON-DOW-SEE0611.aspx

Investopedia: Has Greif Reset Expectations?

Although industrial packaging company Greif (NYSE:GEF) has compelling share in categories like steel and plastic drums, as well as multiwall bags, and a solid long-term plan for boosting margins, this year has ended on a sour note. With sales in Europe down significantly, Greif is going to have to reestablish its credibility with the Street. Should it do so, though, there could be worthwhile rewards here for patient investors.

A Sour End to the Year  
Arguably the best that can be said about Greif's fiscal fourth quarter is that it didn't surprise anyone, as the company had warned the Street back in late November. Revenue rose 14% as reported, but organic growth was basically nonexistent, as declines in comparable volume erased some price increases. Although reported revenue growth in the industrial packaging business came in at 15%, the real result was basically zero, while there was real revenue growth in the much smaller flexible packaging business.

Read more here:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Has-Greif-Reset-Expectations-GEF-BLL-IP-SI1213.aspx

Investopedia: Industry At A Glance - Packaging

Packaging is scarcely ever noticed, but it is everywhere. A quick trip to the supermarket or pharmacy will show not only the ubiquity of packaging products, but the wide scope of form and function that is available to food, beverage, personal care and healthcare companies. There is certainly a cyclical aspect to the packaging industry and input costs are always significant, but investors may want to give this industry more than just a passing thought. There are certainly some interesting companies out there today and some of these stocks could be interesting at current values.

Ball Corp (NYSE:BLL)  
Ball Corp is quite simply the world's largest metal beverage container manufacturer, with about 40% share (rivals Crown Holdings (NYSE:CCK) and Rexam have roughly 20% share each). Ball's customer list is largely a roster of who's who in the beverage industry - soft drink makers like Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP), as well as brewers like Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD). Ball Corp certainly has some vulnerability to higher metal prices, but the company's market position is such that it can pass on at least some of this to its customers. The bigger threat to Ball Corp may be substitution, as plastic containers make further inroads into the beverage sector.


Read the full piece at Investopedia:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Industry-At-A-Glance---Packaging-BLL-CCK-BMS-MWV-RKT-SEE-ATR0831.aspx