Stanley has room to grow

Expanding through acquisitions is riskier than internal growth. However, some companies have a strong history of buying and integrating new businesses, and making them more profitable. A top example is Stanley, which has spent over $3.0 billion on acquisitions since 2002, not including last year’s… Read More

Hold Verigy for a higher bid

VERIGY LTD. $13.49 (Nasdaq symbol VRGY; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-447-8378; www.verigy.com; Shs. outstanding: 60 million; Market cap: $807.7 million; No dividends paid) is now the subject of a $12.15-a-share takeover offer from Japan-based Advantest Corp. Advantest is the world’s largest maker of systems that… Read More

Merged company a hold for now

STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $59 (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 159.4 million; Market cap: $9.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 2.2%; WSSF Rating: Average) is the new name of The Stanley Works after the company… Read More