Strategic acquisitions fuel your dividend

Article Excerpt

Using acquisitions to expand adds risk, but Stanley’s strong track record of successfully integrating new businesses cuts that risk. Its expanded operations will also let it keep raising your dividend. STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $157 is a buy. The company (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 159.7 million; Market cap: $25.1 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools for consumers. In addition to Stanley and Black & Decker, you tap top-selling brands DeWalt, Craftsman and Irwin. Tools and storage products accounted for 70% of Stanley’s 2019 sales and 77% of its profits. That’s followed by Industrial products (17% of sales, 17% of profits) and building security systems (13%, 6%). The U.S. supplies about 60% of overall sales. Stanley has increased its dividend each year for the past 53 years and continuously for 143 years. With the September 2020 dividend, the company raised your…