Topic: How To Invest

Hello Pat: I would like your opinion on Mueller Water Products. Thank you for your great input, as always.

Article Excerpt

Mueller Water Products Inc., $3.35, symbol MWA on New York (Shares outstanding: 156.5 million; Market cap: $524.3 million; www.muellerwaterproducts.com), makes products for distributing and measuring water. It also provides consulting services. Mueller’s products include valves, fire hydrants and water meters. Its services help clients detect leaks and assess the condition of pipes. The company has two main subsidiaries: Mueller and Anvil. Mueller mainly sells to municipalities, while Anvil focuses on commercial clients. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, Mueller’s revenue rose 6.8%, to $251.5 million from $235.5 million a year earlier. The company lost $0.01 a share in the latest quarter, compared to a loss of $0.02 a share. On March 31, 2012, Mueller’s long-term debt was $691.6 million, or a very high 132% its $524.3-million market cap. The company has just sold its money-losing U.S. Pipe business for $89.8 million in cash. It will use these funds to pay down its debt. Even with the proceeds from the U.S. Pipe sale, Mueller…