SNAP-ON INC. $101 - New York symbol SNA

SNAP-ON INC. $101 (New York symbol SNA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 58.2 million; Market cap: $5.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 1.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; 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 mining companies, electrical power generators and other industrial customers.

In the three months ended September 28, 2013, Snap-On’s revenue rose 6.1%, to $798.3 million from $752.1 million a year earlier. The latest figure includes $15.6 million from Challenger Lifts, which the company bought for $38 million in May 2013. This business makes systems that raise cars off the ground.

If you exclude Challenger’s contribution and the negative impact of foreign currency rates, revenue would have risen 4.7%.

Earnings gained 14.2%, to $84.6 million from $74.1 million. Due to more shares outstanding, earnings per share rose 13.5%, to $1.43 from $1.26.

The stock trades at 19.4 times its likely 2013 earnings of $5.20 a share. The $1.52 dividend yields 1.5%.

Snap-On is a hold.

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