SYMC buy pays off

Article Excerpt

SYMANTEC CORP. $28.52 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (650-527-8000; www.symantec.com; Shares outstanding: 623.4 million; Market cap: $17.8 billion; Dividend yield: 1.1%) sells computer-security technology, including antivirus and email-filtering software, to businesses and consumers. In August 2016, the company acquired privately held Blue Coat for $4.65 billion. That business makes products to protect clients from cyberattacks through their websites and networks. Excluding costs to integrate Blue Coat, along with other unusual items, Symantec earned $209 million, or $0.32 a share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. It’s a 21.5% jump from $172 million, or $0.26, a year earlier. The company’s revenue in the quarter rose 19.7%, to $1.09 billion from $909 million. Symantec now expects further gains—both from its current operations as well as its recent $2.3 billion purchase of LifeLock Inc. That software provider is a leader in identity-theft protection. Symantec is a top pick for 2017. 2017…