Cost-cutting plan boosts Philips

Article Excerpt

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. ADRs $41 (New York symbol PHG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 936.9 million; Market cap: $38.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 2.1%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.philips. com) makes health-care products, including X-ray scanners and ultrasound systems, along with consumer goods such as electric shavers and coffee makers. In the quarter ended September 30, 2017, sales fell 0.2%, to 4.15 billion euros from 4.16 billion euros a year earlier (1 euro = $1.53 Canadian). That decline is because the company continues to cut its stake in its lighting operations (it now owns 41.25% of that business). Excluding the contributions of that business, sales improved 4% in the quarter. Thanks to a successful cost-cutting plan, Philips saved 146 million euros in the latest quarter; earnings also jumped 22.9%, to 263 million euros from 214 million euros. Due to more shares outstanding, per share earnings rose 21.7%, to 0.28 from 0.23 euros. Philips is a buy. buy…