Topic: Spinoffs

Spinoffs should send them higher

We like the outlook for these two industrial firms as they move to simplify their operations. Still, we can only recommend one as a buy right now.

DUPONT DE NEMOURS INC. $85 is a buy. The company (New York symbol DD; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 430.0 million; Market cap: $36.6 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.dupont.com) took its current form on June 1, 2019, when it set up Corteva (its agriculture business) as a separate company (New York symbol CTVA). In another spinoff, it set up its Materials Science operations as Dow Inc (New York symbol DOW).

DuPont now has two divisions: electronics and industrial (52% of revenue) and water and protection (48%). Its products include construction materials such as Tyvek home wrap, fibres such as Kevlar, and electronic displays that are used in bulletproof vests and electronic displays.

The company now plans to separate into three independent, publicly traded companies. Under the plan, it would spin off its Electronics business and also its Water business. The remaining firm will keep the DuPont name and “DD” trading symbol; it will hold most of its Industrial, Safety and Shelter solutions businesses.

DuPont expects the two separations to be tax-free for shareholders and take 18 to 24 months to complete. Neither spinoff is subject to a shareholder vote. No other terms have yet been disclosed.

The stock is up about 30% in the past five years. It now trades at a reasonable 22.5 times its projected 2024 earnings of $3.77 a share. The $1.52 dividend yields 1.8%.

DuPont is a buy.

JACOBS SOLUTIONS INC. $141 is still a hold. The company (New York symbol J; Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 126.0 million; Market cap: $17.8 billion; Dividend yield: 0.8%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.jacobs.com) provides engineering and technical support to both governments and the private sector in 40 countries.

On September 27, 2024, the company split off its Critical Mission Solutions (CMS) business as a new firm. CMS provides consulting services, mainly to U.S. federal government agencies. It specializes in cybersecurity, space exploration, national security, nuclear remediation and 5G wireless technology.

Jacobs then merged CMS with Amentum, a private engineering and project management company based in Maryland, to create a new publicly traded company called Amentum Holdings, Inc. (New York symbol AMTM).

Holders of Jacobs shares received new shares (tax free) in the merged firm and now hold about 51% of its shares. Jacobs also received about $900 million in cash, which it will use to pay down its long-term debt of $2.09 billion (as of June 30, 2024).

Both Jacobs Solutions and Amentum are holds.

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