Two GPS Stocks To Buy Now

Article Excerpt

TRIMBLE NAVIGATION $31.62 (Nasdaq symbol TRMB; SI Rating: Speculative) (408-481-6914; www.trimble.com; Shares outstanding: 121.4 million; Market cap: $3.8 billion) makes GPS devices and technology for four main markets: 1) Engineering and construction is the biggest contributor to revenue for Trimble, at 55% of revenues. 2) Agriculture GPS products (25% of sales) let farmers cut costs and increase yields by, say, precisely plowing, seeding or fertilizing fields, even at night. 3) Fleet products (12% of sales) track moving vehicles, and time their stops and starts. 4) GPS components (8% of sales) consist of GPS boards, modules, chipsets and technology licenses for major customers around the world. Trimble’s revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2008, rose 24.3%, to $355.3 million from $285.7 million. Earnings per share rose 32%, to $0.33 from $0.25. (All figures in U.S. dollars.) Trimble spends a high 11% of sales on research and development. Earlier this year, Trimble acquired Montreal-based Geo-3D. Privately held Geo-3D’s land videography technology uses high-resolution digital imagery and…