Snap-On faces two challenges

Article Excerpt

SNAP-ON INC. $283 is a hold. The company (New York symbol SNA; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 52.9 million; Market cap: $15.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.3; Dividend yield: 2.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snapon.com) continues to see strong demand from independent garage operators for its tools as rising interest rates and inflation prompt more people to fix their older cars instead of buying new ones. In the first quarter of 2023, Snap-On’s revenue (excluding financial services) rose 7.8%, to $1.18 billion from $1.08 billion a year earlier. Thanks to savings from an ongoing plan to improve efficiency, earnings per-share rose 15.0%, to $4.60 from $4.00. The stock trades at a reasonable 16.1 times the $17.55 a share that the company will probably earn in 2023. However, higher prices for steel and labour could squeeze profit margins. Rising interest rates could also lead to higher loan losses for the company’s lending division. The $6.48 dividend yields 2.3%. Snap-On is a hold. hold…