Stanley and Newell make acquisitions work

Article Excerpt

Stanley and Newell have a long history of making new businesses they purchase more profitable. That cuts their risk of using acquisitions to expand. STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $127 (New York symbol SWK; Income Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 153.9 million; Market cap: $19.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 1.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools for consumers. It also makes building-security products, such as locks and gates, and specialized tools for auto mechanics and industrial workers. The company has a long history of using acquisitions to expand. That includes its recent deal to buy the tool businesses of Newell Brands (see right). Those operations make hand tools under the Irwin, Lenox and Hilmor brands. Stanley will pay $1.95 billion when it completes the purchase in the first half of 2017. The new operations will increase its earnings by $0.15 a share in the first year, rising to $0.50…