Focus on software and services set to pay off

Article Excerpt

Slowing sales of new ATMs have hurt Diebold and NCR. However, profits should improve as they continue to expand their software and servicing businesses. NCR CORP. $31 (New York symbol NCR; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 121.8 million; Market cap: $3.8 billion; Priceto- sales ratio: 0.6; No dividends paid; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.ncr.com) makes automated teller machines (ATMs), cash registers, self-serve checkouts and kiosks for theatres and arenas. In the three months ended September 30, 2017, NCR’s revenue fell 0.2%, to $1.66 billion from $1.67 billion a year earlier. Gains at its services unit (up 3.0%) and software (up 1.7%) offset weaker sales of ATMs and other hardware (down 6.5%). Earnings in the quarter improved 5.9%, to $143 million from $135 million. Per-share earnings gained 6.9%, to $0.93 from $0.87, on fewer shares outstanding. NCR will probably earn $3.10 to $3.20 a share for all of 2017. The stock trades at just 9.8 times the midpoint of that range. Private-equity…