Higher profitability protects their dividends

Article Excerpt

These two makers of tools and related items are aggressively cutting their costs as consumers scale back their spending. Improving their profitability will help protect their current dividend payments and set them up for future gains. Note—we prefer Stanley for your new buying. STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $86 is a buy. The company (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 153.9 million; Market cap: $13.2 billion; Dividend yield: 3.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools. With the September 2023 payment, the company raised your quarterly dividend by 1.3%, to $0.81 a share from $0.80. The annual rate of $3.24 a share yields 3.8%. Stanley has now raised the dividend each year for the past 56 years. In the first quarter ended March 30, 2024, Stanley’s revenue declined 1.6%, to $3.87 billion from $3.93 billion. Revenue was lower for both its Tools & Outdoor, and Industrial segments. Excluding…