MTS’s outlook is still weak

Article Excerpt

MTS SYSTEMS CORP. $29 (Nasdaq symbol MTSC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 16.4 million; Market cap: $475.6 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; Dividend yield: 2.1%; WSSF Rating: Average) earned $6.2 million, or $0.37 a share, in its second quarter, which ended April 3, 2010. That’s down 17.4% from $7.4 million, or $0.44 a share, a year earlier. The company recently cut 12% of its workforce. That should save it $21 million in fiscal 2010. Sales fell 12.4%, to $94.3 million from $107.7 million. MTS is seeing fewer testing-equipment orders from carmakers. However, demand for its sensors is improving. Still, the company needs a sustained economic recovery to spur its growth. MTS Systems is a hold. hold…