Stanley spinoff would unlock value

Article Excerpt

STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $114 (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 150.1 million; Market cap: $17.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.stanleyblack anddecker.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools for consumers. This business supplies 64% of its sales. Stanley also makes building-security products, such as locks and gates (19% of sales), and specialized tools for auto mechanics and industrial workers (17%). Stanley makes acquisitions work In the past few years, Stanley has fueled its growth with acquisitions. Since 2002, the company has spent $6.2 billion to buy related companies. That excludes its $4.5-billion all-stock acquisition of rival toolmaker Black & Decker in March 2010. Stanley’s sales fell 1.8%, from $10.4 billion in 2011 to $10.2 billion in 2012 after it sold some smaller businesses. Sales then rose to $11.0 billion in 2013, and to $11.3 billion in 2014. Foreign…