These industrials aim to target new markets

Article Excerpt

Each of these three small industrial firms has used acquisitions to expand into new markets and regions. While it pays to take a skeptical view of companies that buy other firms to grow, we feel these particular purchases will pay off. Even so, not all of three stocks are now buys. QUAKER CHEMICAL CORP. $152 (New York symbol KWR; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 13.3 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; Dividend yield: 0.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.quakerchem.com) makes lubricants and chemicals that keep mechanical parts from rusting. The company recently agreed to acquire Houghton International Inc. Based in Philadelphia, the privately owned firm makes specialty chemicals, oils, and lubricants for customers in the automotive, aerospace, mining, and beverage industries. Under the terms of the takeover, Houghton’s owners will receive $172.5 million in cash and a 24.5% stake in the combined company. Quaker expects the merger will let it cut $45 million from its annual costs within…