Topic: Growth Stocks

SNAP-ON INC. $61 – New York symbol SNA

SNAP-ON INC. $61 (New York symbol SNA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 58.4 million; Market cap: $3.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 2.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snapon.com) makes tools for auto mechanics. That puts the company in a great position to gain from rising car sales. Snap-On sells its products through a fleet of franchised vans that visit garages. It also makes specialized tools for mining companies, electrical power utilities and other industrial customers.

Snap-On’s revenue rose 11.1% in 2011, to $3.0 billion from $2.7 billion in 2010. Earnings rose 42.2%, to $265.2 million, or $4.52 a share, from $186.5 million, or $3.19 a share.

The company will spend $60 million to $70 million to expand and upgrade its operations in 2012. It’s particularly interested in growing in developing countries. Right now, it gets 59% of its revenue from North America.

Snap-On’s earnings should rise to $4.99 a share in 2012. The stock trades at a low 12.2 times that estimate.

Snap-On is a buy.

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