Cost cuts help revive Briggs’profits

Article Excerpt

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $19 (New York symbol BGG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 50.0 million; Market cap: $950.0 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 2.3%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) is the world’s largest lawnmower engine maker. This business accounts for 60% of Briggs’ revenue. It gets the remaining 40% by making other home and garden equipment, such as pressure washers and snow blowers. Briggs’ sales have steadily fallen since their 2005 peak. That’s because the recession and high unemployment cut demand for discretionary items like lawnmowers. In response, the company closed plants and cut its workforce. These moves are paying off. In its third quarter, which ended March 28, 2010, Briggs earned $42.7 million, or $0.85 a share. That’s up 68.2% from $25.4 million, or $0.51 a share, a year earlier. The latest earnings exclude an $18.7-million charge to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of using misleading labels on its engines. Sales rose 3.1% in the…