A top buy for global growth

Article Excerpt

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $66 (New York symbol UTX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 933.1 million; Market cap: $61.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 2.6%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) has six main businesses: Pratt & Whitney makes aircraft engines (24% of 2009 revenue, 26% of earnings); Otis makes and services elevators (22%, 35%); Carrier makes heating and air-conditioning equipment (21%, 11%); Sikorsky makes helicopters (12%, 9%); Hamilton Sundstrand makes electronic aircraft controls (11%, 12%); and UTC Fire & Security sells burglar alarms and fire-protection services (10%; 7%). The U.S. government is the company’s biggest customer, and accounts for roughly 18% of its yearly revenue. Recession hurt growth in 2009 Revenue rose 38.8%, from $42.3 billion in 2005 to $58.7 billion in 2008. However, revenue fell 9.8% in 2009, to $52.9 billion, as the recession cut demand for United Technologies’ aerospace and building-related products. Earnings rose 48.2%, from $3.2 billion in 2005 to $4.7 billion in 2008. The company is…