StarKist Sale Should Spur Earnings

Article Excerpt

DEL MONTE FOODS CORP. $8.00 (New York symbol DLM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 197.3 million; Market cap: $1.6 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) acquired its StarKist canned tuna division from Heinz in 2002, but rising prices for raw materials and strong price competition have hurt its profitability. Del Monte now makes more money from its canned fruit and vegetables and pet food operations than from StarKist. Consequently, Del Monte has now agreed to sell the StarKist business to South Korea’s Dongwon Enterprise Co. for about $300 million. StarKist supplies around 15% of Del Monte’s total revenue. The sale will give Del Monte more cash to expand its more profitable operations. Del Monte is a buy for aggressive investors. investors…