Strong Growth Offsets Dilution Fears

Article Excerpt

STATE STREET CORP. $69 (New York symbol STT; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 336.4 million; Market cap: $23.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) has completed its $4.2 billion all-stock acquisition of Financial Services Corp., which provides custodial and related services to institutional investors. To offset the extra shares outstanding, the company plans to buy back $1 billion worth of its stock in the next six months. Merger costs will hurt State Street’s earnings in the next year or two. But the acquisition makes it a leading service provider to private equity funds. The company also plans to focus on high-growth markets in Asia and Europe. It aims to soon increase overseas revenue to 50% of the total, from 43% in 2006. State Street is a buy. buy…