Big purchase would add appeal

Article Excerpt

United Technologies has a long history of successful acquisitions. They include its 2012 purchase of Goodrich. That aircraft-equipment maker has helped the company increase its manufacturing contracts. UTX stock moved down recently in response to media reports the company now aims to buy Rockwell Collins Inc. (New York symbol COL). That firm makes airframes and other aircraft components. The acquisition would likely cost $30 billion, or nearly a third of United Technologies’ market cap. There is also little overlap between the two firms, so any savings from the merger would be small. However, the deal would help the company generate a higher percentage of its revenue from maintenance services. That would cut its reliance new-product sales. Even if the Rockwell acquisition fails to materialize, we still like the long-term prospects for United Technologies. UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $117 (New York symbol UTX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 798.8 million; Market cap: $93.4 billion; Price-tosales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 2.4%; TSINetwork…