You’ll benefit as Philips pares back

Article Excerpt

Dutch electronics giant Philips started up in 1891 as a maker of light bulbs and radios. Over the following decades, it has added a wide variety of other consumer products, including television sets, kitchen appliances and personal grooming products. Philips is now preparing to sell or spin off its consumer business. That would let it focus on its more-profitable medical products business. The move should also spur more gains for Philips’ investors, who have already seen their shares jump 20% in the past year. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. ADRs $57 is a buy. The company (New York symbol PHG; Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 905.1 million; Market cap: $51.6 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.philips.com) has three main businesses: Diagnosis & Treatment (43% of 2020 sales, 30% of earnings) makes X-ray scanners and ultrasound systems; Connected Care (29%, 44%) makes equipment that monitors a patient’s vital signs (pulse, temperature, etc.) as well as emergency cardiac resuscitation equipment (defibrillators); and Personal Health (28%, 26%) makes a wide variety of consumer…