You should buy Emerson before spinoff

Article Excerpt

Big investors like pension funds tend to prefer pure-play companies with simple-to-understand businesses. As a result, firms with more diverse operations tend to attract activist investors who pressure them to spin off some of their businesses as a way of boosting value for investors. Emerson Electric is a good example of a diverse firm that has attracted activist attention; specifically. New York-based hedge fund D.E. Shaw. That activist owns more than 1% of Emerson stock and wants the company to break itself into two separate businesses. It believes doing so would deliver more than $20 billion in additional shareholder value. In response, the company has named one D.E. Shaw representative to its board. Emerson is also conducting a comprehensive review of its operations. That—and the potential for a spinoff—significantly increases Emerson’s appeal for our subscribers. EMERSON ELECTRIC CO., $72.75, is a buy for spinoff gains. Investors in the company (New York symbol EMR; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 609.2 million; Market cap: $44.3 billion;…