These recent spinoffs are off to a good start

Article Excerpt

In late 2016, three of our long-time recommendations (Alcoa, Conagra and Yum Brands) each set up a part of its business as a separate company. Each then handed its investors shares in the new company. Studies have shown that these new firms (called spinoffs) and their former parents tend to outperform groups of comparable stocks for several years. We like the outlook for all three new firms, but not all are currently buys. ARCONIC INC. $31 (New York symbol ARNC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; s/o: 438.5 million; Market cap: $13.6 billion; p/s ratio: 1.1; Divd. yield: 0.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.arconic.com) set up its bulk aluminum business as a separate company called Alcoa Corp. (see right) in November 2016. It also handed out 80.1% of the shares in the new company to its shareholders. Each investor received one Alcoa Corp. share for every three ARNC shares they owned. The remaining firm is a leading maker of engineered aluminum products for cars…