Buy UTX even after its jump

Article Excerpt

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP., $140, is our #1 Conservative buy for 2019. This leading maker of aircraft engines and controls, heating equipment, and elevators (New York symbol UTX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 862.8 million; Market cap: $120.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.utc.com) recently agreed to merge with Raytheon Co. (New York symbol RTN). That announcement has helped investors to a 29% gain this year. Raytheon is a manufacturer of electronic systems for military aircraft and radar systems. Its shareholders will own 43% of the combined firm, while UTX investors will hold 57%. Following the merger, United Technologies will spin off its Otis (elevators) and Carrier (heating/air conditioning) units in early 2020. United Technologies’ earnings in the third quarter of 2019 climbed an impressive 23.3%, to $1.91 billion from $1.55 billion a year earlier. With more shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 14.5%, to $2.21 from $1.93. Revenue jumped 18.1%, to $19.5 billion from $16.5 billion…