ABB LTD. ADRs $24 (New York symbol ABB; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 2.3 billion; Market cap: $55.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 3.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.abb.com) makes transformers, transmission systems and circuit breakers for electrical power utilities. The Switzerland-based company also produces automation systems and robotics that industrial clients use to improve their productivity.
The uncertain economy is hurting equipment orders. However, an acquisition helped push up ABB’s revenue by 5.8% in the three months ended June 30, 2013, to $10.2 billion from $9.7 billion a year earlier. Earnings per ADR rose 13.8%, to $0.33 from $0.29 (each American Depositary Receipt represents one ABB common share).
ABB is a buy.