Motorola’s vital products cut your risk

Article Excerpt

Shares of Motorola Solutions are down 2% in the past year, but that’s better than the 16% drop for the S&P 500 Index. Despite the current uncertainty, we still like the company’s long-term prospects as it’s a key supplier of vital communications gear to police, fire and other first responders. Its high order backlog also cuts your risk. MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. $240 is a buy. The company (New York symbol MSI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 166.9 million; Market cap: $40.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 4.8; Dividend yield: 1.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.motorolasolutions.com) makes communications equipment such as two-way radios for police and fire vehicles, as well as high-definition surveillance systems. It also makes software that helps governments manage their emergency response call centres. Motorola tends to fuel its growth with acquisitions. However, it cuts the risk of this strategy by focusing on smaller firms that enhance its technology or its presence in certain markets. Some of its latest purchases include spending $388…