MTS SYSTEMS CORP. $45 – Nasdaq symbol MTSC

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MTS SYSTEMS CORP. $45 (Nasdaq symbol MTSC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 15.3 million; Market cap: $688.5 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mts.com) makes equipment and software that tests materials, machines and structures. This helps manufacturers lower their costs and improve the quality of their products. The company is starting to see rising demand for its products as the economy recovers. In its 2011 first quarter, which ended January 1, 2011, MTS’s sales rose 19.0%, to $105.9 million from $89.0 million a year earlier. Earnings jumped 246.3%, to $13.3 million from $3.8 million. Earnings per share rose 273.9%, to $0.86 from $0.23, on fewer shares outstanding. That’s mainly because it is selling more products with high profit margins. As well, MTS set aside less money to cover potential warranty claims. MTS should earn $2.71 a share in fiscal 2011. The stock trades at 16.2 times that figure. However, the U.S. federal government recently suspended the…