PPG Industries, Inc. PPG has completed the buyout of United States-based specialized automotive refinish products manufacturer, SEM Products, Inc. However, the financial terms of the transaction have been kept under wraps. SEM Products is a leading manufacturer of repair and refinish products, mainly used for automotive and other transportation applications. The products offer convenience and include Color Coat - the original flexible coating and mixing system, Dual Mix - a two-part cartridge system for adhesives, fillers and sealers and Bumper Coater - the first product to restore the finishes of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) on cladding and plastic bumpers.On Oct 18, 2018, PPG Industries announced the acquisition of SEM products. The buyout complements PPG Industries’ automotive refinish line of products and adds specialized, value-added items that address the requirement of distributors and body shops.PPG Industries has outperformed the industry in the past year. The company’s shares have lost around 5.3% compared with the 17.5% decline of the industry.PPG Industries’ Performance Coatings segment sales rose more than 2% at constant currency in the third quarter as higher selling prices more than offset the modest decline in sales volumes. The company’s Industrial Coatings segment saw a year-over-year uptick in sales. However, net income at both the segments declined year over year due to raw material and logistics cost inflation. In its third-quarter earnings call, PPG Industries stated that it sees normal business seasonality in the fourth quarter. The company witnessed higher industrial production volatility and inconsistency in emerging region growth rates during the third quarter and expects this to persist in the fourth quarter. The company projects fourth-quarter earnings per share of $1.03-$1.13.PPG Industries, Inc. Price and Consensus PPG Industries, Inc. Price and Consensus | PPG Industries, Inc. QuoteZacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderPPG Industries currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).A few better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space include CF Industries Holdings, Inc CF, The Mosaic Company MOS and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. APD. CF Industries has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 6% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The company’s shares have gained 17.4% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Mosaic has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 7% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company’s shares have rallied 54.6% in the past year.Air Products has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 11.8% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company’s shares have risen 2.9% in the past year.Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%. And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation. See Them Free>>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG): Free Stock Analysis Report Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD): Free Stock Analysis Report The Mosaic Company (MOS): Free Stock Analysis Report CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.