Two new buys for spinoff investors

Article Excerpt

On April 4, 2023, industrial products maker Crane Holdings split into two separate companies—Crane Co. and Crane NXT. Investors received one share of Crane Co. for every share they held. Crane Holdings then changed its name to Crane NXT. We expect both firms will benefit as they sharpen their focus on their main businesses. It’s also possible that both could become attractive takeover targets. CRANE CO. $79 is a spinoff buy. The company (New York symbol CR; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 56.4 million; Market cap: $4.5 billion; Dividend yield: 0.9%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.craneco.com) was originally founded in 1855. Today, it makes and distributes products for the construction, aerospace, defence, and other industries. Those products include pumps, valves and other fluid control devices; vending machines; fiberglass reinforced panels; and aircraft brake systems. The company operates three business segments: Process Flow Technologies (about 51% of earnings); and Aerospace & Electronics (42%); and Engineered Materials (7%). The new firm’s annual sales of about $2 billion represent 8%…