Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat. I’d appreciate your thoughts on Leggett & Platt. Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Leggett & Platt, $19.10, symbol LEG on New York (Shares outstanding: 146.4 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion), makes a wide variety of industrial products at over 140 plants in 18 countries. The company got its start as a pioneer of the steel-coil bedspring, which was patented in 1885. Leggett & Platt mainly makes components for customers, rather than finished products. The company has four main divisions: 1) Residential Furnishings, which supplied 55% of the company’s 2009 sales and 52% of its earnings, makes coils, springs, frames and mechanisms for beds, sofas and reclining chairs. It also makes fabrics for mattresses and furniture. 2) Commercial Fixturing (16% of 2009 sales and 4% of earnings) makes shelving, counters, showcases and garment racks for retailers. It also makes casters (or small wheels) and other hardware for office furniture. 3) Specialized Products (15%, 10%) makes parts for automotive seating, specialized machinery and equipment, and service-van interiors. 4) Industrial Materials (14%, 34%) makes steel wires and tubes. About half…