Two ways to diversify your Finance holdings

Article Excerpt

These legacy industrial conglomerates are now breaking up into smaller firms. Eliminating their “holding company discounts” should unlock value for shareholders. However, ABB has a brighter short-term outlook than GE. ABB LTD. ADRs $30 is a buy. This Swiss-based company (New York symbol ABB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $60.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.abb.com) plans to narrow its focus to its main electrification and automation businesses. Under that strategy, the company will sell or spinoff its turbocharging business (called Accelleron) later this year. That unit makes equipment to improve the performance of diesel and gasoline-powered engines. In 2021, the business accounted for 3% of ABB’s total revenue of $28.9 billion. If ABB opts for a spinoff, the Accelleron shares would trade on the Swiss Stock Exchange. The company is also moving ahead with its plan to sell shares in its E-mobility business, which makes charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs), with…