United Technologies invests in wind power

Article Excerpt

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $70 (New York symbol UTX; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 937.5 million; Market cap: $65.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; Dividend yield: 2.2%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) is buying 49.5% of U.K.-based Clipper Windpower PLC. Clipper makes turbines and other equipment for wind-power projects. United Technologies is paying $271 million. That’s equal to 26% of the $1.1 billion, or $1.14 a share, that it earned in the three months ended September 30, 2009. Clipper is currently losing money. However, demand for wind-power equipment is growing strongly as countries look for ways to cut their fossil-fuel use. Clipper should also benefit from United Technologies’ jet-engine and fuel-cell expertise. Moreover, it can use United Technologies’ distribution network to increase its sales. United Technologies is a buy. buy…