Snap-On’s outlook remains cloudy

Article Excerpt

SNAP-ON INC. $239 is a hold. The company (New York symbol SNA; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 53.1 million; Market cap: $10.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.snapon.com) continues to see strong demand from independent garage operators for its tools as rising interest rates and inflation prompt more people to fix their older cars instead of buying new ones. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Snap-On’s revenue (excluding financial services) rose 4.3%, to $1.16 billion from $1.11 billion a year earlier. Thanks to savings from an ongoing plan to improve efficiency, earnings per-share rose 7.8%, to $4.42 from $4.10. The stock trades at a reasonable 14.0 times the $16.98 a share that the company will probably earn in 2023. However, higher prices for steel and other inputs could squeeze profit margins. The company’s $6.48 dividend yields 2.7%. Snap-On is a hold. hold. …