Buy now for spinoff gains

Article Excerpt

TENNECO INC. $33 (New York symbol TEN; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 51.4 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Dividend yield: 3.0%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.tenneco.com) is a leading maker of auto parts. Those products include emission and exhaust systems as well as shocks and struts. The company currently has 92 manufacturing plants in over 25 countries. It makes about 80% of its revenue as a parts supplier to big automakers such as General Motors and Ford. The remaining 20% of revenue comes from aftermarket sales to mechanics and consumers. Tenneco now plans to spin off its Aftermarket and Ride Performance business later this year. The new company will be called DRiV and should have annual revenue of over $6.4 billion. About 51% of the spinoff’s revenue will come from North America, followed by Europe (37%) and Asia (12%). DRiV should also have gross earnings of $595 million. Following the split, Tenneco will focus on making powertrain and exhaust parts. It will have annual revenue…