In this article, we will be taking a look at the 12 biggest glass companies in the world. To skip our detailed analysis of these companies and the glass industry, you can go directly to see the 5 Biggest Glass Companies In The World.
The glass industry is among the most overlooked industries in the market, as many customers who habitually and repeatedly purchase glass products do not realize the extent of their reliance on them. Despite this, the glass industry has steadily been on the rise across the globe over the last two decades in terms of the usage of high-performance glasses. As a result, key players in the glass industry such as Saint Gobain Company (EPA:SGO), PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG), and Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW), among others, have been profiting. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific continues to be the largest market for glass and glass products. In 2021, this region alone accounted for 20.3% of the global market revenue share in the glass sector.
According to a report published by the National Glass Association this January, while US economic recovery continues, glass manufacturers have begun pushing for improved efficiency and better performance to meet rising demand. The report mentions that there is a fair likelihood of demand for glass products remaining high throughout 2022. Stephen Weidner, the head of Architectural Glass North America, was cited as commenting that the glass market is continuing to grow at a rate of 3% per year. The glass market has also started making headway into solar products with the rise of “green” glass products used in the production of solar panels for the increased use of green energy and electricity.
Apart from just being used in conventional sectors such as electronics, green energy, and more, glass products also have much to contribute to the automotive sector. Companies such as Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), and Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) in this sector all rely on glass companies for the provision of automotive glass and coatings used in the manufacture of vehicles. Glass demand in this sector is also expected to stabilize throughout 2022, ensuring a vital customer base remains from which the glass industry can continue to benefit for years to come.
Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash
Our Methodology:
For our list below, we have selected glass manufacturers that are among the largest in the world, based on their market cap. The companies are ranked on the basis of the lowest to the highest market cap.
Biggest Glass Companies In The World
12. Guardian Industries Company
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Cap as of November 3: N/A
Guardian Industries Company, based in Michigan, US, is among the largest glass companies in the world today. It manufactures float glass, glassware, fiberglass insulation, and other forms of building materials for commercial and residential construction. The company’s products and services are also used in the automotive industry.
The company is a fortune 500 worldwide leader in the glass industry. The company’s annual revenue as of 2022 was $4.3 billion, and it employs around 18,000 employees. At this moment, Guardian Industries Company supplies glass products to about 160 countries on five continents.
11. Beijing Glass Group
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Cap as of November 3: N/A
Beijing Glass Group, based in Beijing, was founded in 1940. The company is a manufacturer of industrial and technical glass, alongside eyeglasses, quarts, and silicon materials.
Beijing Glass Group is also known for its production of photovoltaic cell modules used in the production of solar panels. The company also produces high-grade fused refractories, eyewear, and eye-care products.
10. Pilkington Glass Company (FRA:FDD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Cap as of November 3: $50,040,000
Pilkington Glass Company (FRA:FDD) has been a subsidiary of Nippon Sheet Glass since 2006, and is based in Lancashire, United Kingdom. The company has become the world’s leading producer and distributor of tempered automotive, aerospace, and building glass. Since the company’s sales have been significantly high since its inception, it is considered on its own as one of the biggest glass companies in the world.
The company had a peak revenue of $593.4 million in 2021, and its revenue on average is $593.4 million annually. Pilkington Glass Company (FRA:FDD) focuses on the production of solar control, insulation, fire protection, noise control, self-cleaning, decoration, and other glass systems.
Stocks like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), and Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE) in the automotive industry benefit from the existence of companies such as Pilkington Glass Company (FRA:FDD) that provide specialized products for the production of automobiles.
9. China Glass Holdings Company (HKG:3300)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Cap as of November 3: $1,250,000,000
China Glass Holdings Company (HKG:3300) is a manufacturer of flat and coated glass. The company was established in 2004. It was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2005.
The company’s main products include float glass, reflective glass, energy-saving glass, photovoltaic products, deep processing glass, and more. China Glass Holdings Company (HKG:3300) exports its specialized products to over 100 countries and regions, for use in landmark buildings on a national and international level.
China Glass Holdings Company (HKG:3300) is also a dividend-payer, holding a yield of 7.35% as of November 3. It has a forward P/E ratio of 3.78.
8. Vitro Glass (BMV:VITROA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Cap as of November 3: $8,820,000,000
Vitro Glass (BMV:VITROA) was founded in 1909 in Monterrey Mexico and is currently one of the largest glass companies in the world. The company owns subsidiaries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, that also manufacture, process, distribute, and market glass products. It operates through these subsidiaries, numbering over 30 companies, based in Mexico, the US, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama.
Vitro Glass (BMV:VITROA) is a specialized company in five areas: glass containers, construction glass, automotive glass, and mechanical equipment and chemicals. While it began its journey as a glass container factory, the company has since made strategic acquisitions in Bolivia and the US to expand its business areas.
The company has annual revenues of $1.77 billion. It employs about 15,000 people across the globe at present.
7. Saint Gobain Company (EPA:SGO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Market Cap as of November 3: $20,730,000,000
Saint Gobain Company (EPA:SGO) is the oldest company on this list, originally founded in 1665 and currently based in Paris, France. Saint Gobain is now a Fortune Global 500 company and primarily focuses on glass manufacturing, ceramic plastic, gypsum building materials, and other high-tech materials. It offers products to the automotive, home and office, and health and industrial sectors.
The company was originally a mirror manufacturer but is now one of the top 10 glass companies in the world. It has successfully been raking in over $40 billion a year, making it a leader in the glass manufacturing sector.
Saint Gobain Company (EPA:SGO) has a P/E ratio of 7.15, and employed over 167,000 people in 2021. It had a net profit margin of 6.77% in June 2922, demonstrating a growth of 15.33% year-over-year compared to the same period in 2021.
6. PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
Market Cap as of November 3: $25,870,000,000
PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) is a provider of automotive coatings and flat glass, based in the US. The company also manufactures and distributes paints and specialty materials across the globe.
A Buy rating was reiterated on PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) shares on October 21 by analyst David Begleiter at Deutsche Bank. The analyst also placed a $128 price target on the stock.
PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) has become the world’s largest producer of coatings after its purchase of select Akzo Nobel assets. The company’s significant global footprint in over 75 countries and expanded consumer base helped it generate $16.8 billion in total sales in 2021. In the second quarter of 2022, PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) had record sales of $4.7 billion, demonstrating a growth of 8% year-over-year from the prior year.
Bailard Inc was the largest stakeholder in PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) in the second quarter, holding 9,271 shares worth $1.02 million. In total, 22 hedge funds were long the stock, with a total stake value of $240.2 million.
ClearBridge Investments, an investment management firm, mentioned PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) in its first-quarter 2022 investor letter. Here’s what the firm said:
“”While commodities-exposed areas of the materials sector such as mining and steel fared well in the quarter, we tend to have less direct exposure to commodities across our portfolio. Holdings like paint and coating company PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) that use natural gas and oil related products as feedstock into their products faced sharp input cost escalation, driving meaningful margin compression, which was not well-received by investors. While negative in the short term, we remain confident that the company will be able to adjust pricing accordingly and recover margins over the medium term.”
Like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), and Ferrari N.V. (NYSE:RACE), PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) is among the stocks many hedge funds are piling into today.
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Disclosure: None. 12 Biggest Glass Companies In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.