Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I would like your opinion on Twin Disc. Thank you.

Article Excerpt

Twin Disc, $32.71, symbol TWIN on Nasdaq (Shares outstanding: 11.6 million; Market cap: $379.4 million; www.twindisc.com), designs, makes and sells transmission equipment for boats, off-highway vehicles such as military trucks, mining trucks, firefighting and rescue vehicles, and heavy-duty equipment such as rock crushers, oil rigs and wood chippers. The company’s products include marine transmissions, propellers and boat controls, as well as power-shift transmissions, hydraulic torque converters and industrial clutches. Twin Disc sells its products to pleasure boat makers, as well as manufacturers of boats and equipment for commercial and military use. Energy firms, government agencies and manufacturers also use Twin Disc’s parts in their equipment. Twin Disc shares fell 20% on January 20, 2012, after the company reported higher revenue and earnings in the quarter ended December 31, 2011, but missed the consensus estimates. Sales rose 10.4%, to $82.9 million from $75.2 million a year earlier, but were below the consensus estimate of $89 million. Earnings per share rose 41.7%, to $0.51 from $0.36,…