Activist targets Procter & Gamble

Article Excerpt

PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. $91 (New York symbol PG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 2.7 billion; Market cap: $245.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.6; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pg.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of household and personal-care goods. Its major brands include Tide (laundry detergent), Pampers (diapers), Gillette (razors) and Crest (toothpaste). As part of a strategy to focus on its most profitable brands, in 2016 the company transferred 41 of its beauty brands, including Wella, Clairol, Max Factor and CoverGirl, to Coty Inc. (New York symbol COTY). The stock jumped recently on news that activist investor Nelson Peltz, through his firm Trian Partners, now holds $3 billion of Procter’s shares. Trian will probably pressure the company to spin off more of its operations and cut costs. Even if Procter decides against more spinoffs, we still like its longterm prospects. Procter & Gamble is a buy. buy…