Stanley has room to grow

Article Excerpt

Expanding through acquisitions is riskier than internal growth. However, some companies have a strong history of buying and integrating new businesses, and making them more profitable. A top example is Stanley, which has spent over $3.0 billion on acquisitions since 2002, not including last year’s $4.7-billion, all-stock purchase of rival toolmaker Black & Decker. Stanley’s shares have risen over 30% since the Black & Decker takeover, but they still trade at a reasonable multiple of earnings. We feel the company has more gains ahead. STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $73 (New York symbol SWK; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 167.2 million; Market cap: $12.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; Dividend yield: 2.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) is the new name of The Stanley Works following its March 2010 purchase of Black & Decker Corp. Stanley shareholders own 50.5% of the combined company. Black & Decker investors own the remaining 49.5%. Stanley Black & Decker is one of…