Updating Newell Rubbermaid Inc., Snap-On Inc. and Genuine Parts Co.

Article Excerpt

NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. $40 (www.newellrubbermaid.com) continues to benefit from its ongoing cost-control plan, as well as its recent purchases of smaller firms that make premium baby strollers, reusable water bottles and thermal mugs. It now expects to earn between $2.10 and $2.18 a share in 2015, up from $2.00 in 2014. Newell also increased its dividend by 11.8%. The new annual rate of $0.76 a share yields 1.9%. Best Buy. SNAP-ON INC. $148 (www.snapon.com) makes tools for auto mechanics and sells them through a fleet of franchised vans that visit garages. It also makes specialized tools for industrial customers. In 2014, Snap-On’s revenue rose 7.2%, to $3.3 billion from $3.1 billion in 2013. Thanks to a cost-cutting plan, earnings per share jumped 20.4%, to $7.14 from $5.93. Snap-On’s 2015 earnings should improve to $7.82 a share, and the stock trades at 18.9 times that estimate. That’s a high multiple for a company that serves the cyclical automotive industry. Hold. GENUINE PARTS CO…