Buy for global recovery gains

Article Excerpt

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $84 (New York symbol UTX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 908.7 million; Market cap: $76.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 2.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.utc.com) has six main businesses: Pratt & Whitney makes aircraft engines (24% of 2010 revenue, 25% of profit); Otis makes and services elevators (21%, 32%); Carrier makes heating and air-conditioning equipment (21%, 14%); UTC Fire & Security sells burglar alarms and fire-protection services (12%, 9%); Sikorsky makes helicopters (12%, 8%); and Hamilton Sundstrand makes aircraft controls (10%, 12%). The U.S. government supplied 18.2% of United Technologies’ 2010 revenue, and is its biggest customer. Top brands keep clients coming back The company operates in cyclical industries. That adds to its risk. But it owns some of the top brands in its main markets, which helps it attract and retain customers. Moreover, many of its products, such as jet engines and elevators, need constant maintenance. The company now gets 40% of…